Breaking: Horner Presents Onboard Evidence to Challenge Verstappen’s Saudi GP Penalty but…read more

Horner Presents Onboard Evidence to Challenge Verstappen’s Saudi GP Penalty but…read more 

Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner has come forward with compelling visual evidence to contest the five-second penalty handed to Max Verstappen during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix — a sanction that ultimately compromised the reigning world champion’s chances of winning the race.

Verstappen was penalised for a controversial incident that took place at Turn 1, where he ran off the track while under pressure from McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. Despite going off-line, Verstappen maintained his lead, prompting race stewards to assess that he had gained an unfair advantage. As a result, he was forced to serve a time penalty during his pit stop, which saw him fall behind Piastri, who went on to win the race.

In the aftermath of the Grand Prix, Horner met with the media and presented a series of screenshots taken directly from Verstappen’s onboard camera. These images, Horner argued, showed that Verstappen was actually ahead at the apex of the corner — a crucial detail that could change the interpretation of the incident entirely.

Images of Horner holding up the printed screenshots began circulating on social media shortly after the race. In them, he is visibly passionate, attempting to prove that the Dutch driver did not deserve the penalty and would have likely gone on to win if it hadn’t been applied.

During the post-race press conference, Horner detailed the reasoning behind his protest. “Obviously, we spoke to the stewards after the race,” he said. “They were pretty firm in their position. They viewed it as a clear-cut incident and a straightforward penalty. The problem is, even if we file a protest, they’re most likely going to stand by their initial judgment.”

Despite the stewards’ stance, Horner expressed hope that they might be open to reconsidering the decision in light of new evidence. “We’re going to show them this onboard footage — it wasn’t available to them at the time of their original review,” he explained, referencing the images from Verstappen’s car. “We’ll put it in front of them and ask for a second look, though I think realistically the chances of the penalty being overturned are very slim.”

Horner voiced his frustration at what he believes was an unjust decision. “I thought it was incredibly harsh,” he stated. “We didn’t tell Max to concede the position because we genuinely didn’t think he had done anything wrong. When you look at the footage, Max is clearly ahead at the apex. According to the racing rules that have been discussed before, that should have been enough to avoid a penalty.”

He also acknowledged the strategic dilemma Red Bull would have faced had they instructed Verstappen to give up the position voluntarily. “If we had told Max to let Piastri by, then we’re suddenly stuck in dirty air and risk losing even more ground — possibly to George Russell as well,” Horner added. “Once the penalty was given, the best thing we could do was just accept it, put our heads down, and push on.”

Horner’s remarks shine a spotlight on the ongoing debate around how penalties are awarded and the clarity — or lack thereof — in how stewards interpret racing rules. While Verstappen’s penalty may remain in place, Horner’s effort to defend his driver is a reminder of how even the smallest margin can affect the outcome of a Grand Prix.

Whether or not the stewards revisit their decision, the incident raises broader questions about the consistency of FIA rulings and the availability of complete video evidence during in-race investigations. Horner’s claim that the onboard footage was not initially reviewed may add weight to Red Bull’s protest and spark further calls for procedural improvements in stewarding.

For now, Red Bull will move forward with the championship, hoping to regain lost ground. But Horner’s impassioned defence of Verstappen highlights the fine lines that define modern Formula 1 — where a single steward decision can shift the entire balance of a race.