Max Verstappen’s Saudi Penalty: Stewards’ Call vs Red Bull’s Fury

Red Bull, however, fiercely disagreed. Team principal Christian Horner arrived at his post-race media briefing armed with “new evidence”—a still from a pre, the footage showed Verstappen ahead of Piastri at the apex, suggesting he was owed space. But the stewards believed the image reflected Verstappen’s positioning later in the corner—after he had already run off.

As The Race’s analysis pointed out, McLaren team boss Andrea Stella remained calm. He said the matter was clear cut: Piastru earned the convened, stayed within limits, and executed the move cleanly. He even cited a recent example in Bahrain, where McLaren voluntarily instructed Lando Norris to give the position back to Lewis Hamilton despite ambiguity—something Red Bull refused to do in Jeddah.

While Red Bull seems unlikely to push for a formal review, they reportedly want clarity from the FIA on racing rules—particularly how responsibility is shared in overtaking scenarios. In a season where overtaking is harder than ever due to dirty air and low tyre degradation, first lap battles like this one may increasingly determine race and championship outcomes.

Verstappen’s aggressive approach at Turn 1 might have sealed his fate. And crucially, it also overshadowed the fact that a poor start had left him vulnerable in the first place. The four-time world champion may feel wronged, but in the eyes of the stewards—and the sport’s regulations—the penalty stood. And in a title fight separated by mere points, that five-second sanction could loom large.