Red Bull Chooses Not to Challenge Verstappen’s Penalty again as FiA…read more
Red Bull Racing has officially confirmed that it will not pursue any further action regarding the penalty imposed on Max Verstappen during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, despite initial considerations of lodging a protest.
Verstappen, who had secured pole position after an exceptional qualifying lap, found himself immediately challenged by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri at the start of the race. As the two battled side by side into Turn 1, Verstappen left the track momentarily and rejoined ahead of Piastri. The stewards later ruled that the Red Bull driver had gained an unfair advantage by not yielding the position, resulting in a five-second time penalty after he declined to hand the place back voluntarily.
The penalty sparked frustration within the Red Bull camp, with Verstappen displaying visible displeasure during the post-race press conference. Team principal Christian Horner initially hinted at the possibility of contesting the decision, stating that the team was evaluating whether a formal protest could be filed.
However, just days later, Red Bull clarified through a statement to Autosport that they would not move forward with any appeal. The decision marks the end of the matter, with the penalty standing as ruled.
Verstappen ultimately finished the race in second place behind Piastri, a result that has added to his challenging start to the 2025 Formula 1 season. The reigning world champion has not had the dominant start he’s used to, managing only one victory so far this year – at the Japanese Grand Prix. This leaves him trailing both Piastri and Lando Norris in the drivers’ standings.
Red Bull’s overall form has also raised concerns. The team currently sits a significant 99 points behind McLaren in the constructors’ championship, suggesting that their grip on the top of the sport is weakening. Verstappen has been the team’s primary point scorer, contributing nearly all of Red Bull’s tally for the season so far.
Yuki Tsunoda, who was promoted to the team after replacing Liam Lawson earlier this season, is still adjusting to his new environment and has yet to make a substantial impact on the scoreboard. With the Miami Grand Prix approaching, Red Bull faces increasing pressure to find performance improvements if they hope to close the growing gap to McLaren.
As the season progresses, Verstappen now finds himself in unfamiliar territory — fighting from behind in both the drivers’ and constructors’ standings. With the dominance of the McLarens becoming more evident, the path to a fourth consecutive title looks tougher than ever.
