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Red Bull Confirms No Appeal Over Verstappen’s Saudi GP Penalty
Red Bull Racing has officially confirmed that it will not be requesting a review of the five-second time penalty issued to Max Verstappen during the opening lap of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The decision, confirmed to PlanetF1.com, ends speculation that the team might challenge the controversial ruling.
The incident in question occurred just seconds after the race began in Jeddah. Verstappen, who started from pole after a dominant qualifying performance, was immediately challenged by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri as the lights went out. Piastri made a rapid getaway and took the inside line heading into the first corner. Under pressure to hold onto his lead, Verstappen veered off the circuit and drove through the run-off area, rejoining the track ahead of the McLaren driver.
Race stewards reviewed the maneuver and concluded that Verstappen had gained a lasting advantage by going off-track. As a result, they issued a five-second time penalty, which Verstappen served during the race. Despite the penalty, Verstappen was able to maintain strong pace and finished second, just behind Piastri, who secured a well-deserved win.
The Dutch driver made no effort to hide his frustration when the penalty was announced over team radio. In a sarcastic tone, he responded with “f***ing lovely,” clearly displeased with the stewards’ decision. His race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, was the one who communicated the news during the broadcast.
After the race, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner addressed the media with what he claimed was evidence to support Verstappen’s actions. Horner presented photos and visual data, suggesting that Verstappen may not have gained an actual advantage or, at the very least, did not deserve a penalty based on the complexity of the situation. He argued that the incident was more nuanced than what viewers may have seen during the live coverage.
Despite Horner’s stance and the visual materials presented, Red Bull has ultimately decided against pursuing a formal right of review. Formula 1 regulations allow teams to request such reviews if new and significant evidence emerges that was not available at the time of the initial ruling. Though Horner appeared confident in the merit of Red Bull’s materials, the team concluded that the case would not hold enough weight to overturn the original penalty.
This decision effectively brings closure to the debate surrounding the incident. With no appeal forthcoming, Red Bull is now shifting focus to the upcoming races in the championship. The team remains firmly in the title hunt, but the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix highlighted how even small infractions can influence the outcome of a race.
Verstappen, although disappointed, will now have to move past the controversy and concentrate on future opportunities to extend his and Red Bull’s lead in the championship. The team’s strategy will now be centered on consistency and clean racing as they look to regain their dominant momentum in the rounds ahead.
