• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Max Verstappen ignored F1 tradition on Saudi Arabia Grand Prix podium following penalty

Home> F1

Updated 08:33 21 Apr 2025 GMT+1Published 08:29 21 Apr 2025 GMT+1

Max Verstappen ignored F1 tradition on Saudi Arabia Grand Prix podium following penalty

Max Verstappen received a 5-second penalty after an incident with Oscar Piastri.

Marcus Chan

Marcus Chan

Max Verstappen appeared to 'ignore' a Formula 1 tradition during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix podium ceremony.

The four-time world champion was left seething after he was handed a 5-second penalty for an incident with Oscar Piastri.

Immediately after the lights went out, Verstappen and Piastri headed into the first corner neck and neck.

Advert

The McLaren star looked to be alongside Verstappen as the pair battled for P1.

Verstappen had to take action as he went wide and off the track before regaining first position when he rejoined the action.

As a result, the stewards deemed Verstappen at fault and handed him a penalty for 'leaving the track and gaining an advantage'.

Advert

In the end, Piastri won the race ahead of Verstappen and Ferrari star Charles Leclerc.

After the race, during the podium ceremony, it is tradition for the drivers to spray champagne in celebration.

However, a video instantly went viral on social media as it showed Verstappen simply taking a sip of his bottle of champagne (sparkling rose water due to Saudi Arabian rules) while the others were spraying eachother.


Advert


Meanwhile, F1 photographer Kym Illman also spotted Verstappen's reluctance to take part in the podium celebrations.

He wrote on social media: "On the podium it was clear Max was not impressed with the penalty handed down to him during the race tonight. He chose not to take part in the bubbly spraying.

Advert

"In the press conference, was up front about not being able to say what he thinks for fear of a penalty."

Max Verstappen was left unimpressed after his 5-second penalty. Image: Getty
Max Verstappen was left unimpressed after his 5-second penalty. Image: Getty

When quizzed on the penalty, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, who brought onboard evidence to dispute the decision, said: "I thought it was very harsh. We didn't concede the position because we didn't believe that we had done anything wrong. You can quite clearly see at the apex of the corner we believe that Max is clearly ahead.

"I can't see how the stewards got to that conclusion. They've both gone in at the same speed. Oscar's run deep into the corner, Max can't just disappear at this point in time."

Advert

Horner added: "Perhaps these rules need a re-look at. I don't know what happened to 'let them race' on the first lap. That just seems to have been abandoned."

Featured Image Credit: Getty

Topics: Max Verstappen, Formula 1, Red Bull Racing, Oscar Piastri

Marcus Chan
Marcus Chan

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • FIA document reveals decision on Max Verstappen penalty points ahead of British Grand Prix
  • Nico Hulkenberg makes feelings clear on Max Verstappen after finally securing F1 podium finish
  • Max Verstappen's furious x-rated radio message emerges as Oscar Piastri handed penalty for British Grand Prix incident
  • F1 fans spot 'hidden Max Verstappen message' in Mercedes' special announcement for Silverstone Grand Prix

Choose your content:

13 hours ago
14 hours ago
  • 13 hours ago

    Nico Hulkenberg makes feelings clear on Max Verstappen after finally securing F1 podium finish

    The Sauber driver took his first-ever top-three Grand Prix finish at Silverstone.

    F1
  • 13 hours ago

    Police issue statement after AngryGinge 'arrested and banned' from Silverstone Grand Prix

    A police statement has been released following AngryGinge's incident at the British Grand Prix.

    F1
  • 13 hours ago

    Pierre Gasly's reaction to Nico Hulkenberg's maiden podium speaks volumes as unheard radio message emerges

    Alex Albon also had his say on the German's third-placed finish during the British Grand Prix.

    F1
  • 14 hours ago

    Italian media make their feelings clear on Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari after worrying team radio message during Silverstone GP

    The seven-time F1 world champion has joined the Scuderia but Hamilton is yet to stand on the podium in red.

    F1