Internet divided after Verstappen's penalty in Jeddah: Too harsh or makes sense?

Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri's battle in Jeddah.<br>

23:03, 20 Apr 2025

Kada Sárközi joined GPblog as an editor ahead of the 2023 Formula 1 season. He graduated with a BA in Sports Journalism in the UK and has covered Grands Prix and other F1 events live.

For the first time in 2025, the pole sitter did not win the Grand Prix. After Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri locked horns, the Dutchman had to serve a penalty, while the McLaren driver claimed all 25 points.

Piastri had a better start off the line, and was alongside his rival in Turn 1. As a result, as the Australian pushed him wide, Verstappen decided to cut the corner instead.

The Red Bull driver did not hand back the position, and after the safety car left the track, it was announced that he received a five-second penalty by the stewards. After he served that in the pit lane during his single stop, Piastri managed to finish ahead of his rival.

The incident lead to much debate on the topic, both inside and outside of the paddock. While Helmut Marko saw it was a strict penalty, McLaren CEO Zak Brown called it 'appropriate'.

See here how the internet reacted to the four-time world champion's penalty below!.

Here is how the internet reacted to the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and Verstappen's penalty

Parody FIA

@FIAsteward

·Follow

Verstappen running in his favoured position here: an illegally gained one.

5:18 PM · Apr 20, 2025

·Follow

I swear verstappen thinks every rule in the book is just optional for him

5:07 PM · Apr 20, 2025

·Follow

Someone tell Verstappen Masi isn’t here anymore 😭

5:10 PM · Apr 20, 2025

·Follow

Verstappen 5 sec penalty, pushed out by Piastri, ridiculous, #SaudiArabianGP

5:15 PM · Apr 20, 2025

Read 1 reply

Rob Morley

@RobMorley_

·Follow

Absolutely classic verstappen that like isn’t it, done it before at that corner. A 5 second time penalty is a shambles there. You’d take 5 seconds for track position all day.

5:13 PM · Apr 20, 2025

Read 1 reply

Quents

@PapaQuents

·Follow

Never a 5 sec penalty for verstappen there, just tell him to give the place back. It's not a penalty worthy incident imo

5:13 PM · Apr 20, 2025

Read 1 reply

Dimitri 🇩🇪

@Dimitriavid

·Follow

5 sec penalty isn’t enough of a punishment for this btw. Verstappen gains plenty more from driving in clean air 😂😂😂

5:39 PM · Apr 20, 2025

Read 1 reply

Carolina

@manguqueen

·Follow

Lmao Lawson getting a 10 sec and Verstappen only getting a 5 sec penalty is NASTY work

6:10 PM · Apr 20, 2025

Read 1 reply

This article was written in collaboration with Estéban den Toom

Don’t miss GPblog in Google

Mark us as a preferred source and our articles will appear more often at the top of Top Stories.

Add as a preferred / source on Google

Horner points to rules of engagement: 'It would have been a win'

Mercedes doesn't have 'the explanation' for Russell's P5 finish

F1 Today | Verstappen urged to stay patient at Red Bull, Mercedes admit penalties 'inevitable'

F1 News•

Aug 03, 21:01

•Henry Eccles

by Henry Eccles

Coulthard tips Aston Martin to win races by 2028 after Hungarian GP upgrades

F1 News•

Aug 03, 20:01

•Henry Eccles

by Henry Eccles

McLaren reveal MCL40 'course correction' after rival investigation

F1 News•

Aug 03, 19:01

•Henry Eccles

by Henry Eccles

Bearman admits Hamilton's 2026 revival 'not ideal' for Ferrari dream

F1 News•

Aug 03, 18:01

•Henry Eccles

by Henry Eccles

Newey backs 'more mature' Aston Martin to seize F1 2027 opportunity

F1 News•

Aug 03, 17:01

•Henry Eccles

by Henry Eccles

Mercedes admit penalties for Antonelli and Russell 'almost inevitable' amid reliability woes

F1 News•

Aug 03, 16:01

•Henry Eccles

by Henry Eccles

Verstappen must be patient: 'Red Bull will be back within a year'

F1 News•

Aug 03, 14:00

•Ludo van Denderen

by Ludo van Denderen

With F1 set to return to Malaysia, here's why Formula 1 drivers loved Sepang’s heat, speed and wide-open racing

Analysis•

Aug 03, 13:00

•Ben Hunt

Times are in your local timezone

Rumors

More Rumors

Popular on GPBlog

Verstappen must be patient: 'Red Bull will be back within a year'

Mercedes admit penalties for Antonelli and Russell 'almost inevitable' amid reliability woes

Ferrari pit-wall decision puts Leclerc-Hamilton tension back under the spotlight

F1 Today | Verstappen urged to stay patient at Red Bull, Mercedes admit penalties 'inevitable'

F1-stand 2026

Pos.	Driver	Team	Points
1	Kimi Antonelli Kimi Antonelli	MercedesMER	219
2	Lewis Hamilton Lewis Hamilton	FerrariFER	169
3	George Russell George Russell	MercedesMER	160
4	Charles Leclerc Charles Leclerc	FerrariFER	138
5	Lando Norris Lando Norris	McLarenMCL	128
6	Max Verstappen Max Verstappen	Red Bull RacingRBR	109
7	Oscar Piastri Oscar Piastri	McLarenMCL	92
8	Isack Hadjar Isack Hadjar	Red Bull RacingRBR	68
9	Liam Lawson Liam Lawson	Racing BullsRCB	43
10	Pierre Gasly Pierre Gasly	AlpineALP	42
11	Arvid Lindblad Arvid Lindblad	Racing BullsRCB	23
12	Franco Colapinto Franco Colapinto	AlpineALP	19
13	Oliver Bearman Oliver Bearman	HaasHAA	18
14	Gabriel Bortoleto Gabriel Bortoleto	AudiAUD	10
15	Carlos Sainz Carlos Sainz	WilliamsWIL	6
16	Alexander Albon Alexander Albon	WilliamsWIL	5
17	Esteban Ocon Esteban Ocon	HaasHAA	3
18	Nico Hulkenberg Nico Hulkenberg	AudiAUD	2
19	Fernando Alonso Fernando Alonso	Aston MartinAST	1
20	Lance Stroll Lance Stroll	Aston MartinAST	0
21	Valtteri Bottas Valtteri Bottas	CadillacCAD	0
22	Sergio Perez Sergio Perez	CadillacCAD	0

Show Full Standings

Internet divided after Verstappen's penalty in Jeddah: Too harsh or makes sense?

Here is how the internet reacted to the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and Verstappen's penalty

Don’t miss GPblog in Google

Horner points to rules of engagement: 'It would have been a win'

Mercedes doesn't have 'the explanation' for Russell's P5 finish

F1 Today | Verstappen urged to stay patient at Red Bull, Mercedes admit penalties 'inevitable'

Coulthard tips Aston Martin to win races by 2028 after Hungarian GP upgrades

McLaren reveal MCL40 'course correction' after rival investigation

Bearman admits Hamilton's 2026 revival 'not ideal' for Ferrari dream

Newey backs 'more mature' Aston Martin to seize F1 2027 opportunity

Mercedes admit penalties for Antonelli and Russell 'almost inevitable' amid reliability woes

Verstappen must be patient: 'Red Bull will be back within a year'

With F1 set to return to Malaysia, here's why Formula 1 drivers loved Sepang’s heat, speed and wide-open racing

F1 Today | Verstappen urged to stay patient at Red Bull, Mercedes admit penalties 'inevitable'

Coulthard tips Aston Martin to win races by 2028 after Hungarian GP upgrades

McLaren reveal MCL40 'course correction' after rival investigation

Bearman admits Hamilton's 2026 revival 'not ideal' for Ferrari dream

Popular on GPBlog

Verstappen must be patient: 'Red Bull will be back within a year'

Mercedes admit penalties for Antonelli and Russell 'almost inevitable' amid reliability woes

Ferrari pit-wall decision puts Leclerc-Hamilton tension back under the spotlight

F1 Today | Verstappen urged to stay patient at Red Bull, Mercedes admit penalties 'inevitable'

Season

Horner points to rules of engagement: 'It would have been a win'

Mercedes doesn't have 'the explanation' for Russell's P5 finish