Johnny Herbert, former Formula 1 driver and FIA commissioner, openly criticized the decision of the race stewards to impose only a 5-second penalty on Max Verstappen after the incident with Oscar Piastri at the first corner of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. According to Herbert, the penalty was too light compared to the actual infraction committed by the Red Bull driver.
“The incident between Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri at Turn 1 was a clear penalty. These are the best drivers in the world: they know where to brake, where to steer. Max completely cut the corner to stay in front. Five seconds is too little,” Herbert stated to Beste Online Casino Nederland.
Antonelli did the right thing, Verstappen didn’t
Verstappen, starting from pole, cut the first corner by going wide to maintain his position over Oscar Piastri, who had made a better start. The contact was analyzed by the stewards, who chose a reduced penalty, considering it happened during the first lap.
Johnny Herbert was even more explicit: “If you take the lead by cutting the corner, you can easily recover those five seconds. It’s happened many times. So, what’s the point of giving a penalty if the driver still stays ahead?”
He then cited Kimi Antonelli as a positive example, who, in a similar incident with Charles Leclerc at the same corner, gave the position back: “Antonelli did the right thing. Max Verstappen didn’t. And he could have still won the race if he had done that.”
Johnny Herbert also pointed a finger at the team’s behavior: “Horner showed footage to prove that Max was ahead at Turn 1, but that was just a way to shift responsibility onto the FIA. Red Bull had the chance to give the position back and didn’t.”
The former driver then concluded with a warning: “The rules must be clear and the same for everyone. If we start changing them based on the circumstances of the first lap, we’re opening a dangerous precedent. Max gained an advantage, period.”
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