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Max Verstappen furious as FIA explain controversial penalty – RacingNews365 Review
Max Verstappen received a five-second time penalty for cutting Turn 1 and gaining an advantage over Oscar Piastri at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The FIA stewards have clarified the reason behind the penalty imposed on Verstappen, who had started the race from pole position but faced competition from Piastri in the first corner. Christian Horner contested the penalty with what he believed to be photographic evidence against it. Lando Norris admitted that his own qualifying error made the race “very tough” for him in Saudi Arabia, following a disappointing weekend at the Bahrain International Circuit. McLaren CEO Zak Brown supported the decision of Verstappen’s penalty, considering it appropriate for leaving the circuit and gaining an advantage. Oscar Piastri emphasized that he was determined not to come out of the first corner in second place, after an eventful start to the race where he vied with Verstappen.
