Debate | Verstappen should have voiced his concerns to the FIA in the Jeddah paddock
Max Verstappen received a five-second time penalty at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, and although the Dutchman visibly disagreed, he chose not to speak about it afterwards. Would Verstappen have been better off voicing his concerns to the FIA, or was silence the most powerful option? Vote in our poll!
Max Verstappen received a five-second time penalty in Saudi Arabia for overtaking Oscar Piastri off the track, but since this happened in the first lap, the Dutchman was given a five-second penalty instead of ten.
During the race, Verstappen's dissatisfaction could already be heard over the team radio, with the Dutchman believing that Piastri did not give him any space. The Australian countered that Verstappen would never have made the corner. Ultimately, the stewards decided to give Verstappen a time penalty, dropping him down to second after the first round of pit stops, unable to make the place back and finished P2 in Jeddah.
Read also
Should Verstappen have voiced his concerns to the FIA?
After the Grand Prix, Verstappen refused to talk about the incident or the penalty received, not speaking about it in the on-rack interviews, the post-race press conference, or in the paddock afterwards.
The exact reason for the Dutchman's choice is unclear, but it could be related to the strict rules set by the FIA, with drivers not allowed to speak too negatively about the governing body, otherwise, they may face penalties and fines for their outbursts.
But what sends the most powerful message? There was a clear disagreement from Verstappen with the penalty that he received after the turn 1 incident. Should he have taken the opportunity to express his dissatisfaction in the media, potentially causing some change? Or was the Dutchman's silence more powerful?
Poll
What do GPblog readers think? Vote in the poll and leave your comments below!
This article was written in collaboration with Sandy van Wijngaarden
Popular on GPBlog
Albon jokes about return flight with Verstappen: 'I'll sleep on that plane'
Russell was suprised by Verstappen actions in Jeddah
Red Bull Racing seeks last-minute change in 2026 engine regulations
