Max Verstappen has stunned the Formula 1 world by suggesting that he can end its 2025 season early, after a controversial punishment that the FIA ​​pronounced after the Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia.

De Red Bull-coureur kreeg een tijdstraf van vijf seconden omdat hij in de eerste ronde van de baan raakte tijdens een gevecht met Oscar Piastri van McLaren.Verstappen, die vanaf pole startte, werd agressief uitgedaagd in bocht 1, waarbij Piastri de binnenlijn behield.Toen de twee auto’s de chicane naderden, verliet Verstappen de baan en sloot hij weer aan voor Piastri, waardoor hij de leiding in de race The stewards later ruled that this maneuver was illegal and punished Verstappen for gaining a lasting benefit.

According to the FIA: “Auto 81 [Piastri] had its front axle in any case next to the mirror of Auto 1 [Verstappen] prior to and at the top of bend one. So car 81 was therefore entitled to racing space. Car 1 left the track and achieved a lasting benefit that was not returned.”

Although the default sentence for such a violation is ten seconds, the FIA ​​reduced it to five seconds, because it is an incident in round 1, bend 1. The punishment turned out to be expensive, because Verstappen finished only 2.6 seconds behind Piastri, who achieved his third victory of the season. Really was visibly frustrated after the raced, but was initially adhered to with an initial one with an initial one with a branch with an initial one with a clear one with a clear one with a stretch of his quiet, but with a cleared one with an incident, and is outbared with an initial one with an incident, and is a branch with an initial one with an incident, and is notified with an initial one with an incident, and is a silent, but with an incident with a quiet one, and is a silent one, but with a cleared one with an incident, to be silent, but with a quiet one -to -the -race. Warning about his future in sport.

“There is clearly a lot happening behind the scenes,” Verstappen said. “If this continues, I might just call it a day before the season, much earlier than someone expected. I am not here to race with one hand bound on my back. There is a difference between fair competition and being pushed in a corner. This is what he sees as the last.” Stewarding decisions. “It is difficult to remain motivated if you feel that the rules are applied differently, depending on the driver or the team. I have given everything for this sport, but I will not continue if the playing field is not the same.”

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner supported the frustrations of Verstappen and called the decision “very hard” and argued that Verstappen was at the top of the bend. “We did not believe he had done anything wrong,” said Horner. “That penalty took the victory of our way.” The Cryptic comments from Verstappen, where in the paddock in deeur Halfway through the season could be seriously running away. Although such a step would be unprecedented, Verstappen has previously shown that he is not afraid to express his opinion – or take daring action. Now the tensions between Red Bull, the Fia and Verstappen themselves are increasing, all eyes will be aimed at the next Grand Prix to see if this situation can be escalated.