F1
Verstappen saved from heavier penalty: 'Better not to talk about it'
© Florent Gooden / DPPI
On a circuit where overtaking is not common outside the start/finish straight, Oscar piastri knew that the lights going out would be his best chance to take the lead. Pressing from the start of the first corner, the Australian got up to Max Verstappen, the latter delaying its braking to the extreme.
Bypassing the first chicane, the Dutchman judged, just like his team after the race, that the driver McLaren had pushed him out, causing him to go off the track. Accustomed to these kinds of controversial situations, the reigning champion was still penalized for not giving up his position. Despite a debate still raging on Monday morning, the FIA's sporting regulations indicate that the penalty he received was even somewhat lenient.
First-lap rule saves Max Verstappen from the worst
Later in the Grand Prix, Liam Lawson performed a maneuver that was exactly like Max Verstappen's at the start. Jack Doohan was injured by this action, and the New Zealander was penalized 10 seconds in accordance with Article 33.3 of the sporting regulations. In its report, the FIA stated that the four-time world champion was not penalized in the same way because the driver is given more leniency on the first lap of the race.
At the press conference, the still laconic reaction of the person concerned echoed his first words after leaving his car. Asked twice about the subject, the pilot Red Bull charged the high authorities in his own way. "The start happened, the first corner happened, and suddenly it was lap 50. Everything happened super fast. The problem is, I can't give my opinion because I might be penalized, so it's better not to talk about it." he commented dryly.
Asked again about the possibility of giving his position back to Oscar Piastri, allowing him to take advantage of DRS later in the race, Max Verstappen adopted the same behavior. "I think it's best not to talk about it. Anything I say or try to say about it could get me into trouble."
Finding himself once again in a disadvantaged position both in the world championship standings and in terms of performance aboard his single-seater, the Dutchman does not seem to be about to give up. In Miami, he is 12 points behind the leader and will certainly try to overturn the existing hierarchy once again.
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Alain Féguenne (Luxembourg)
22/04/2025 at 08:19 a.m.
As many think, the penalty was more than justified, sorry for Max, and it's very good that a driver like Oscar doesn't let himself be pushed around. In the past drivers like Senna or Schumacher have found drivers who don't let themselves be pushed around... That's Racing. For Max, he will think twice, when he fights... against Oscar... 😎👀🤨
vincent moyet
21/04/2025 at 11:24 a.m.
Verstappen was up against an authoritarian but clean driver in Piastri, who didn't open up his line. This is a far cry from the maneuvers where Verstappen takes an opponent into the background by blocking his path. Yes, he would never have seen the McLaren again if he had stayed behind, hence this desperate attempt to portray himself as a victim. So let him go and look for performance honestly like he did in Japan... or let him look for a better car.
Bernard JOUVENE
21/04/2025 at 07:20 a.m.
It's impossible for Max to take the turn...but Oscar helped him a lot! To give up the position would have cost him much more than 5" he would never have seen the McLaren again
Lardinois
21/04/2025 at 06:40 a.m.
Where is the freedom to speak if we can no longer defend ourselves, worse than kindergarten, maybe they had to touch each other for the sake of the FIA's beautiful eyes, racing was better before the 70s and 80s, did we have this fight in complete freedom?
DANIEL MEYERS
21/04/2025 at 01:05 a.m.
How expressive is the photo illustrating this article! We can clearly see what Max thinks of Mohamed; for once, I am completely in phase with Jos's son.
DANIEL MEYERS
21/04/2025 at 01:01 a.m.
As Grosjean so aptly put it, Oscar did a Verstappen to Verstappen! It's perfect like that, and let it happen again.
vincent moyet
21/04/2025 at 11:07 a.m.
The truth is that Piastri pushed both Norris and Verstappen to lose their tempers and make mistakes, and that both of them find themselves with a serious problem on their hands: an unshakeable rock who has just lined up 3 victories in 5 GPs with authority, and who is not going to stop there.
Lucas Paul
21/04/2025 at 10:55 a.m.
Always the same stories with Max, when another driver allows himself to beat him for the victory!!! Knowing Max and his shenanigans, he knew here that Oscar on his left would take the lead at the first corner, since he was turning left, so he calculated that by pretending to be cornered there, he would pass through the green zone!!! For once, he did wrong, and the 5 second penalty was not enough, it should have been 10 seconds and 1 point on his license.