Furious F1 fans agree with Martin Brundle and demand Max Verstappen ‘learn a lesson’ after Oscar Piastri incident

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Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen was at the centre of another controversial moment during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

The start of the race was always going to be crucial for Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri on the front row of the grid.

Verstappen produced an unbelievable qualifying lap to start on pole position despite Red Bull’s apparent disadvantage to McLaren.

Damon Hill lauded Verstappen as he benefited from a marginal tow from teammate Yuki Tsunoda to beat the Australian by 0.010 seconds on Saturday.

However, both drivers were well aware that getting a good launch off the line was going to be crucial to how their races played out.

The five red lights didn’t stay on for long, and Piastri’s reaction time and acceleration was far more effective than Verstappen’s, and at the first apex, he marginally ahead.

Verstappen took to the run-off and cut the corner, retaining the lead before the safety car came out following a collision between Tsunoda and his old teammate Pierre Gasly.

What followed was a time penalty for Verstappen despite his protestations on the team radio, but the punishment didn’t fit the crime for Martin Brundle.

READ MORE: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

Martin Brundle doesn’t think Max Verstappen’s penalty was harsh enough at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

Brundle was commentating on Sky Sports F1 (20/4 6:12 pm) alongside David Croft as it was announced that Verstappen has been handed a five-second time penalty, but not forced to hand back the position to Piastri.

In response to this, Brundle said: “That still leaves him out in front with clear air.

“I mean let’s forget which car it is and who’s driving whatever, that leaves that driver out in front in clear air, rather than giving the place back.

“They either gained a place unfairly, or they haven’t. I don’t think that penalty does the job properly.”

Croft replied: “It could be a penalty, it might be a hindrance, it might not be a penalty at all.

“We won’t know until we get to the pit stops when that penalty will be served.”

READ MORE: McLaren driver Oscar Piastri’s life outside F1 from height to girlfriend

Formula 1 fans agree that Max Verstappen’s penalty wasn’t harsh enough

In response to the penalty handed to Verstappen, plenty of fans gave their verdict on whether they believed it was far.

One fan said, “He should have been told to give the position back,” while another agreed, “Would Max have done the same thing if there was a tyre barrier around the outside of turn 1? No.”

Another comment read, “So he gets to dictate the restart and drive in clear air doing less damage to his tyres meaning he can probably make up that 5 seconds before the first pit stops. Hardly a penalty all things considered.”

One reply suggested, “They should have forced him to return the position at the restart instead of allowing him to pull away.”

The issue with the rule was pointed out by one comment which read, “So all Oscar needs to do is get within range of Verstappen and make no attempt to brake for the first corner. He will come out in front of Verstappen and they will both have a five second penalty but Oscar will then have track position!”

One comment told the stewards what penalty Verstappen should have received instead, stating, “5s time penalty……or you stop and go him and make him actually learn a lesson – for once!”, an additional comment suggested, “I swear verstappen thinks every rule in the book is just optional for him.”

Another F1 enthusiast simply said, “Not enough. Decision needed to come during the yellow flag and the position given back. Anything else is a robbery and not punishment enough.”

Max Verstappen no stranger to track limits battles against McLaren drivers

One of the clashes that ran throughout the 2024 season was the battle between Verstappen and Lando Norris.

Both drivers pushed the cars to their limits throughout the campaign, although the Dutchman’s understanding of the rules meant he normally had the upper hand over his rival.

Norris was penalised for overtaking off the track in Austin, while Hill criticised Verstappen for his conduct in Mexico City when he twice went off the track to defend from the Brit.

They came to blows in Austria, which handed George Russell his first victory of last season, and it appears as though Verstappen’s challenge this season might end up being with the McLaren star’s younger teammate.