Red Bull issues F2 defence after Max Verstappen penalty frustration

Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko has issued a pointed defence as to why Max Verstappen was not told to return the race lead to Oscar Piastri at the start of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, resulting in a costly penalty for the Dutchman. 

Verstappen received a five-second time penalty for leaving the circuit and gaining an advantage after cutting the opening chicane on the first lap. 

The four-time F1 champion found himself marginally behind McLaren's Piastri at the apex of the first corner. He then opted to reclaim the lead and stay ahead of the Australian with his corner-cutting manoeuvre. 

Red Bull additionally chose against informing Verstappen to drop behind the Australian due to similar incidents in Formula 2 at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit that went unpunished.

"Over the radio, there was very little discussion about whether or not to give that position back," Marko explained in his column for Speedweek. 

"Our strategic expert, a contact at the FIA, indicated that similar incidents had taken place in Formula 2, but that those incidents went unpunished. In those cases, the parties involved only received a formal warning.

"Luke Browning even did it twice and got away with it without a penalty. We saw it as a racing incident, as something that just happens from time to time at a start.

"The footage didn't really give the answer either. On the first camera images, it looked like Piastri was clearly ahead, while Max was ahead of him again in the actual braking zone. 

"We were optimistic that the issue could be settled without penalties, and, therefore, we did not give up that position. That was, of course, also in the knowledge that if we were behind Piastri, it would be very difficult to overtake that McLaren again."

Verstappen penalty cost

The penalty for Verstappen proved costly, as he lost the race lead to Piastri when serving his punishment during his pit stop. 

Once behind Piastri, Verstappen was unable to regain the lead as he struggled to get within DRS range of the McLaren driver due to following in the dirty air. 

Verstappen was forced to settle for second, meaning the penalty cost the 27-year-old a second victory of the season.

"It cost Max the victory," insisted Marko. "We saw how in the first part of the race, Max was able to drive 2.5 seconds away from Piastri. 

"After the pit stop, Verstappen made up time on the Australian, indicating that he had the speed to win. But in the end, Max just couldn't get close enough [due to dirty air] to attack Piastri."