The Dramatic Finish of the 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

The thrilling conclusion of the 2025 Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was decided in a split second at the first corner. Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen found themselves side by side, with Piastri asserting his position on the inside line, leaving Verstappen with two options: back off or take to the run-off area on the outside.

The Unavoidable Consequences of a Risky Move

Verstappen chose the latter and rejoined the track in the lead, incurring a five-second time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage. Despite holding onto the lead until making his first pit stop, the five-second ‘hold’ in his box cost him valuable track position, ultimately leading to his defeat.

The validity of the penalty sparked heated debates within the fan community as well as on the pitwall. Red Bull’s perspective, as expressed by driver advisor Helmut Marko, was that several similar infractions had gone unpunished during the F2 races this weekend, making the penalty seem unfair.

The Rules of Engagement in Formula 1

However, the rules of engagement in Formula 1 are crystal clear in such circumstances: if a driver leaves the track and is deemed to have gained an advantage by doing so, they must hand back any positions gained. Red Bull and Verstappen failed to comply with this rule even when informed that the matter had been escalated to the stewards, making the five-second penalty inevitable.

Although Piastri was at a disadvantage due to the ‘dirty air’ in Verstappen’s wake during the opening stint, Verstappen’s penalty shifted the initiative, allowing Piastri to lead the remainder of the race once his late-stopping teammate Lando Norris and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc had pitted out of the way.

The Aftermath: A Matter of Opinion

It probably would have been better for everyone if they’d swapped positions,” McLaren CEO Zak Brown told Sky Sports F1 after the race. “I definitely thought a penalty was deserved. Oscar was clearly up the inside, he got a better start and you need to use the racetrack. Whether it’s a five-second penalty or give the position back, I think you could go either way – but I thought it was definitely appropriate, it was Oscar’s corner, and at some point you gotta just concede.

Photos from Saudi Arabian GP – Race