A wafer-thin majority of F1 fans believe Saudi Arabian Grand Prix stewards were correct to award Max Verstappen a five-second time penalty for the Turn 1.
Pole-sitter Verstappen picked up the penalty for cutting across the run-off at Turn 1 after Oscar Piastri went up the inside off the line, going onto ultimately win by 2.7s.
Red Bull felt the penalty was "harsh" in the words of Christian Horner, but in a RacingNews365 poll, a thin majority of fans agreed with the stewards' verdict.
In the poll which closed at 3pm BST sharp on Monday 21st April, 3,987 voters agreed with the stewards, out of a total of 7,972 ballots.
That is an ultra-thin majority of 50.01%.
Some 3,486 people felt the decision was wrong and that Verstappen had been forced off the track, whilst 499 were on the fence.
Check out the breakdown below, and make sure to keep an eye out for the next RacingNews365 poll.
Did Max Verstappen deserve his penalty?
| Option | Number of votes | Votes - Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Yes - the stewards were correct | 3,987 | 50.01% |
| No - he was forced off the circuit | 3,486 | 43.72% |
| Not sure | 499 | 6.27% |
| TOTAL | 7972 | 100% |
Also interesting:
Join RacingNews365's Sam Coop and Nick Golding, as they look back on the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Max Verstappen's five-second time penalty is a major talking point, as is Oscar Piastri being a potential match for the Dutchman. Lando Norris' title chances are also explored.
Rather watch the podcast? Then click here!
Get the latest F1 news from RacingNews365 directly in your Google feed! Click on the link below and you’ll see your favourite F1 website appearing even more often. That way, you’ll never miss any news, analyses, interviews, or exclusives.
Follow RacingNews365 on GoogleMost read
In this article
Never miss a thing from the Formula 1 season! Add the 2026 F1 schedule to your calendar at the touch of a button. Subscribe below and put the dates and times of every race directly on your PC or smartphone, so you don't miss a second from the new season.
Download the F1 calendar Download the F1 calendar
A variant with just the race and qualifying is also available.
Click here to download it..
Join the conversation!