P1racenews AI automatic summary:
The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix stewards have explained why they ruled against Max Verstappen with the penalty that arguably cost him F1 victory in Jeddah
The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix stewards have clarified their decision to penalize Max Verstappen for an incident involving Oscar Piastri that impacted the outcome of the Formula 1 race in Jeddah. Verstappen received a five-second penalty for gaining an advantage by leaving the track during a corner after an incident with Piastri. The stewards determined that Piastri had his front axle alongside Verstappen’s by the apex of the corner, meeting the overtaking guidelines set for the race. They concluded that Piastri had the right to the corner and Verstappen was not unfairly forced off the track. Verstappen’s penalty was reduced to five seconds due to the early stage of the race and the Turn 1 nature of the incident, offering leniency in the decision-making process. The stewards emphasized the importance of following racing guidelines and ensuring safe and controlled overtaking maneuvers on track to avoid penalties in future races.
