Ralf Schumacher exposes ‘real’ reason behind Max Verstappen’s controversial Saudi Arabian GP penalty
Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher pinpointed the cause behind Max Verstappen's penalty at the Saudi Arabian GP.
Follow Us
Ralf Schumacher and Max Verstappen (images via IMAGO)
Max Verstappen was left fuming at the Saudi Arabian GP last weekend. The Dutch driver lost the race lead to McLaren’s Oscar Piastri due to a five-second time penalty. This took away the chances of a potential race win for the four-time world champion. Now, F1 Pundit Ralf Schumacher has highlighted the real reason Verstappen was penalized.
The reigning world champion started the race from pole position. However, at Turn 1, Verstappen was going side-by-side with Piastri. The Red Bull star ultimately struggled to get room to make the corner and ran wide. However, Max Verstappen did not give the position to Oscar Piastri. Subsequently, the stewards handed the penalty to the 27-year-old.
Ralf Schumacher insisted that after running wide, Verstappen quickly accelerated and took advantage of the situation, as Piastri fell behind. The German veteran claimed that was the main reason why he was given a penalty. As the four-time world champion managed to pull off a gap of a couple of seconds right after Turn 1.
He simply accelerated and took advantage of that. I think that was the real cause of the penalty. He grabbed an advantage.
Ralf Schumacher said on Backstage Boxengasse podcast
Moreover, Schumacher reckoned that things would’ve been different, had the Dutchman not pulled away so quickly. If Max Verstappen was still alongside the McLaren for the next corner, before pushing ahead, he would not have gotten such a big advantage. The 49-year-old asserted that in such a scenario, a penalty might’ve been unlikely.
If he had held back a little bit, they might have sat side by side in the next corner and because of that, he might have gotten away with it.
Ralf Schumacher added
Red Bull at blame for Max Verstappen penalty
After Verstappen pulled away from Piastri, many believed that he would likely receive a penalty straightaway. However, the Red Bull pitwall did not ask the reigning world champion to give the position back. F1 presenter Martin Brundle laid down the clear rules in such a situation, blaming Milton Keynes for not making the right call.
Brundle asserted that the F1 rules are very clear for when a driver goes off-track. If a driver gains an advantage in such a situation, they must give the position to the car behind. However, Max Verstappen refused to do so. Moreover, Martin Brundle pointed out that the call to give back the place to Piastri lied with the Red Bull pitwall, which failed to instruct Verstappen.
It has always been clear: if you leave the track and gain an advantage, which [Verstappen] did, because he kept the position, then that position must be given back. The decision ultimately lies with the team; it’s their call to tell the driver to drop back.
Martin Brundle told Sky F1
He further claimed that it would’ve been much better for Verstappen to give back the position instead of taking the time penalty. If the Dutchman had avoided the penalty, he could’ve had the entire race to try and get back the race lead without any external factors dictating the race result.
It’s better to give up that one position than to risk a five-second time penalty.
Martin Brundle noted
Certainly, Max Verstappen and Red Bull have a lot to reconsider before the next race of the season in Miami. The four-time world champion needs to win races if he wants to defend the title this year. On the other hand, Milton Keynes needs to ensure that their star driver gets a car capable of challenging McLaren at every race.
Related: Dutch driver slams ‘shameful’ Max Verstappen over media responses
Subscribe to our Newsletter
/techfirstnow/media/agency_attachments/kATjCXskQdJKkXN0OuqW.png)