FIA release statement after confirming Verstappen Saudi GP penalty verdict following….. read more
The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) has issued an official statement clarifying the reasoning behind Max Verstappen’s time penalty during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, following his on-track incident with Oscar Piastri.
During Sunday’s race, Verstappen, the current Formula 1 world champion, received a five-second time penalty from race stewards after an incident that took place at Turn 1 on the opening lap. The penalty stemmed from Verstappen leaving the track boundaries and gaining an unfair advantage by retaining his position ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who was challenging him for position into the first corner.
The FIA’s decision document detailed the events, explaining that Piastri had drawn level with Verstappen going into Turn 1, which meant he was entitled to space and a fair opportunity to overtake. Instead, Verstappen cut the corner, running wide and rejoining the track ahead of Piastri, without relinquishing the position he had held before the maneuver. After reviewing onboard footage, GPS data, and trackside angles, the stewards determined that Verstappen had indeed left the track and failed to return the position, thus gaining what was described as a “lasting advantage.”
While the Red Bull driver continued to maintain his position on track in the laps that followed, the stewards decided that the advantage Verstappen had secured during that first-corner incident was not surrendered, and therefore merited a time penalty. According to the official ruling, Verstappen should have allowed Piastri to retake the position to avoid further disciplinary action, but this did not occur. As a result, the five-second penalty was imposed during Verstappen’s only pit stop of the race.
The pit stops for both drivers became a key turning point in the battle between the two. When Verstappen entered the pits to change tyres and serve his penalty, Piastri remained close behind and was able to capitalize on the moment, overtaking Verstappen in the net race order. Despite the Dutchman’s best efforts to reclaim the lost ground, he was unable to close the gap entirely, ultimately finishing less than three seconds behind Piastri, who went on to secure the race win.
This ruling from the FIA highlights the importance of fair racing conduct, especially during overtaking scenarios. The decision was made in accordance with established regulations that prohibit drivers from leaving the track and gaining positions or maintaining a position by doing so without yielding the advantage. The FIA emphasized that while aggressive racing is a part of the sport, maintaining respect for racing room and track limits is critical for ensuring fairness and safety for all competitors.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner later acknowledged the stewards’ decision, though he noted that the team had believed the move was borderline. Verstappen himself did not express major disagreement with the decision post-race but appeared focused on the strong recovery drive that saw him remain in contention throughout the Grand Prix.
The FIA’s ruling serves as a reminder of the close scrutiny that race stewards apply to opening lap incidents and the emphasis placed on drivers respecting each other’s space and track boundaries. As Formula 1 continues its competitive 2025 season, enforcement of such regulations will remain essential in preserving the integrity of racing battles on the track.
