Red Bull Plans to Present Evidence Against Verstappen's Penalty at Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

Max Verstappen was handed a five-second penalty at the 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix for leaving the track and gaining an advantage over Oscar Piastri on the first lap, a decision that ultimately cost him the race win. Red Bull team boss Christian Horner strongly criticized the penalty as 'very harsh,' presenting photographic evidence to argue that Verstappen was ahead at the apex and deserved more racing room. Despite these protests and onboard footage showing Verstappen marginally in front, the stewards maintained their judgment that Verstappen breached regulations by not yielding the position after going off track. Horner indicated Red Bull is unlikely to formally protest the decision, though they plan to present additional footage to the stewards for review. The penalty allowed Piastri to overtake Verstappen at the pit stops and secure victory, moving him ahead in the drivers’ championship. The incident highlights ongoing tensions between strict rule enforcement and calls for a more flexible 'let them race' philosophy in Formula 1.