BREAKING: Helmut Marko Slams F1 Stewards Over Verstappen Penalty Verdict After…read more

BREAKING: Helmut Marko Slams F1 Stewards Over Verstappen Penalty Verdict After…read more

Helmut Marko has strongly criticized Formula 1 stewards for what he sees as inconsistent officiating after Max Verstappen received a five-second penalty during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

The penalty was issued after Verstappen left the track while battling Oscar Piastri into Turn 1 on the opening lap, cutting the corner and holding onto the position without giving it back. Although Verstappen momentarily moved ahead by braking late, the stewards ruled that Piastri had the right to the corner and penalized Verstappen for gaining an unfair advantage.

Marko, speaking to Sky Germany, expressed disbelief over the penalty, especially after observing similar incidents in Formula 2 that resulted in only warnings.

“We watched the F2 races, and two or three drivers did the same thing without getting penalized. They were just warned,” said Marko. “So from our perspective, the five-second penalty was excessive. It’s hard to understand the inconsistency in these decisions.”

He added that Verstappen had very little room to react and suggested the move was more marginal than the stewards believed. “At the final braking point, Max was slightly ahead again. It’s tough to say where else he could’ve gone,” Marko added. “But it’s done now.”

Verstappen’s Performance Encouraging Despite Setback

Despite the penalty impacting his race, Verstappen still finished second, just under three seconds behind race winner Piastri—an impressive result considering the difficulties Red Bull faced just one week earlier in Bahrain.

In Bahrain, Verstappen struggled for pace and finished sixth, prompting internal discussions at Red Bull about the car’s performance and direction.

Marko was pleased with the pace Verstappen showed in Jeddah. “Max built a three-second lead early on. Piastri was already struggling with tire degradation,” he said. “And when Max pushed on the hard tires, he was closing in again.”

Looking back, Marko believes the turnaround from Friday to Sunday was significant. “If you told us on Friday we’d be second, we’d have been thrilled. The changes we made worked so well that we’re now a bit disappointed not to win,” he admitted. “But the performance and tire management we showed give us confidence for the races ahead.”