Oscar Piastri Stands Firm on Max Verstappen Penalty as Red Bull Issues Stern Warning
The fallout from the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix continues to dominate Formula 1 headlines, with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri doubling down on his belief that Max Verstappen deserved the controversial 5-second penalty that cost the Red Bull driver victory. Piastri’s remarks have drawn a sharp response from Verstappen and Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, who issued a stern warning to the young Australian, escalating tensions in an already heated championship battle.
The drama unfolded at the start of the Saudi Grand Prix on April 20, when Piastri, starting second, outlaunched pole-sitter Verstappen into Turn 1. As the two went wheel-to-wheel, Verstappen cut the chicane, rejoining the track ahead of Piastri. The FIA stewards deemed the move illegal, issuing a 5-second penalty for gaining an advantage by leaving the track. Piastri capitalized during Verstappen’s pit stop, securing his third win of the 2025 season and the championship lead.
Post-race, Piastri was unequivocal in defending the stewards’ decision. “I had the corner. I was ahead at the apex, and Max went off-track to keep the lead. The rules are clear—you can’t do that. The penalty was fair,” Piastri told Sky Sports F1. His comments, coupled with a sarcastic remark over team radio during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last year calling Verstappen’s aggressive move “worthy of a World Champion,” have irked the Red Bull camp.
Verstappen, visibly frustrated, responded cautiously but pointedly. “Oscar can say what he wants, but he knows racing is about pushing limits. He’s not exactly clean every race himself. Maybe he should look at his own moves before talking,” Verstappen said, referencing their 2024 Abu Dhabi collision, where he apologized to Piastri after receiving a 10-second penalty. Red Bull’s Horner was less restrained, warning Piastri to “focus on his own driving” and accusing him of stirring unnecessary controversy. “We’ve got evidence showing Max was forced wide. Oscar’s comments are bold for someone who’s benefited from stewards’ calls himself,” Horner said, brandishing telemetry data he claims disputes the FIA’s ruling.
The FIA’s post-race report clarified that Piastri’s front axle was alongside Verstappen’s mirrors at Turn 1’s apex, granting him the right to the corner per the Driver’s Standards Guidelines. The stewards noted a 10-second penalty was considered but reduced to 5 seconds due to the first-lap context, a decision some Red Bull supporters on X called inconsistent, citing Liam Lawson’s 10-second penalty for a similar infraction later in the race. Fans on X are divided, with one user posting, “Piastri’s right—Verstappen gamed the rules and got caught. Fair call.” Another countered, “Max was forced off by Oscar’s line. Red Bull’s got a point.”
Piastri’s victory, marking his third in five races, has propelled him ahead of teammate Lando Norris in the drivers’ standings, with Verstappen trailing by 12 points. The Australian’s fearless stance against Verstappen, a four-time champion, has earned him praise for his mental toughness, though some, including his mother Nicole Piastri, expressed concern about his willingness to challenge the aggressive Dutchman. “I wish Oscar wouldn’t go toe-to-toe with Max like that—it’s terrifying,” she said on 4BC radio.
As the F1 circus heads to the Miami Grand Prix, the Verstappen-Piastri rivalry is shaping up as a defining storyline of 2025. With Red Bull’s pace under scrutiny after a lackluster Bahrain GP and Verstappen hinting at frustration with the team, Piastri’s emergence as a title contender adds fuel to the fire. Will Red Bull’s warning temper Piastri’s resolve, or will the McLaren star continue to challenge Verstappen on and off the track? The paddock awaits the next chapter in this gripping saga.
