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The 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix opened with plenty of drama, and it didn’t take long before tensions hit boiling point. Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen, who had claimed pole position at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, found himself under the spotlight after a controversial move at the very start of the race.
Verstappen Penalized After Bold Overtake Attempt on Piastri
Shoes hit the ground in darkness in Jeddah as Verstappen and Oscar Piastri from McLaren broke into a dash for Turn 1. Side by side on the front row, both drivers were determined to sustain positions in a gamble that was always to be high-stakes.
In an aggressive move, Verstappen attempted to seize the lead by lunging past Piastri but ran wide and went off track, with all four wheels off the racing surface while completing the maneuver.
That left Verstappen ahead, but the move was already hotly debated at race control. Piastri contended that Verstappen should have given the position back, saying he "was ahead at the corner." Verstappen felt he had been forced off, insisting "actually Piastri should be penalized."
Then, before the stewards could make an official decision, calamity broke out elsewhere on the track, requiring the early deployment of the safety car.
Collision Between Tsunoda and Gasly Brings Out Early Safety Car
A separate situation further back had seen Red Bull's Yuki Tsunoda and Alpine's Pierre Gasly collide while disputing possession in eighth and ninth places.
Gasly attempted to proceed around the outside, but Tsunoda drifted wide and made contact with him. Tsunoda's flick sent Gasly's Alpine spinning to the barriers, where it came to a halt. Although Tsunoda was able to get his RB21 back to the pits, he retired with damage.
Stewards Hand Verstappen a Five-Second Time Penalty
As the safety car returned to the pits and green-flag racing started on Lap 4, the stewards reached their decision: five seconds for Verstappen on account of gaining a lasting advantage by leaving the track limits.
Frustration was clearly in Verstappen's demeanor as he knew he was going to be serving the penalty during his first pit stop, despite already leading the race. But nevertheless, he went on with the race, showing an impressive pace until the end.
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix – Final Race Results
1. Oscar Piastri – McLaren
2. Max Verstappen – Red Bull
3. Charles Leclerc – Ferrari
4. Lando Norris – McLaren
5. George Russell – Mercedes
6. Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes
7. Lewis Hamilton – Ferrari
8. Carlos Sainz – Williams
9. Alex Albon – Williams
10. Isack Hadjar – RB
11. Fernando Alonso – Aston Martin
12. Liam Lawson – RB
13. Ollie Bearman – Haas
14. Esteban Ocon – Haas
15. Nico Hulkenberg – Sauber
16. Lance Stroll – Aston Martin
17. Jack Doohan – Alpine
18. Gabriel Bortoleto – Sauber
Not Classified: Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull), Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
A Controversial Start to a Thrilling Race
The penalty ultimately cost Verstappen a potential victory, allowing Piastri to cruise to a memorable win for McLaren. While the decision may stir debate among fans and pundits, it also underlined how tight the margins are in Formula 1—where one misjudged move can change the course of a Grand Prix.
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