BREAKING: McLaren Gives Clear Judgement on Verstappen’s PENALTY as…read more

BREAKING: McLaren Gives Clear Judgement on Verstappen’s PENALTY as…read more

Zak Brown and Andrea Stella back stewards’ call after Turn 1 clash

McLaren have made their stance clear on Max Verstappen’s penalty from the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, firmly backing the stewards’ decision following a controversial move on the opening lap.

Verstappen, who started on pole, was penalised with a five-second time penalty after an aggressive defense against Oscar Piastri at Turn 1. The incident ultimately helped Piastri secure victory, with Verstappen finishing second, just 2.843 seconds behind.

McLaren CEO Zak Brown told Sky Sports, “The penalty was definitely justified. Oscar got the better start and had the inside line. At that point, it was clearly his corner. Whether it was giving the position back or a time penalty, something needed to be done. You have to leave room and respect the racing line.”

Team principal Andrea Stella echoed Brown’s view and praised Piastri’s handling of the situation. “Oscar had a fantastic start and positioned himself perfectly going into Turn 1. It was a tight moment, but he managed to stay ahead and keep the car on track. He fully deserved to keep the lead,” Stella said. “Despite it being only his 51st race, he drove with maturity and control.”

Norris Recovers Strongly After Tough Qualifying

Lando Norris, who led the championship heading into the weekend, dropped back in the standings after finishing fourth. A crash in qualifying left him starting from P10, but he managed to climb through the field, engaging in an intense battle with Lewis Hamilton that cost him valuable seconds.

“Lando also had a strong race,” Stella noted. “The hard tyre strategy worked well and gave him clean air to maximise performance. He scored important points. If he can improve his Saturdays, he’ll be in a great position.”

Stella also pointed out the fine margins in today’s F1 battles. “Lando lost some time fighting with Hamilton, and in a race this close, that made the difference in his podium chances.”

The race result marked a big moment for McLaren, with Piastri’s impressive win and the team united in support of the ruling against Verstappen’s aggressive defending.