Max Verstappen on the podium after the Saudi Grand Prix in Djeddah. – Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Max Verstappen chose to bite the lip rather than saying his mind following a controversial decision that cost him the victory at the Saudi Grand Prix on Sunday.
The quadruple world champion finished second behind the Australian pilot Oscar Piastri after being struck with a five -second penalty for leaving the track during a dramatic incident at the first outlet.
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Verstappen had started on the post, but Piastri took a much better start and had his nose at the front towards the first turn. While the couple fought for the head, Verstappen crossed a chicane that the racing delegates considered to have given them an unjust advantage.
Red Bull’s pilot, who gave a sarcastic response to the radio when he was informed of punishment during the race, was clearly frustrated, but said that he did not want to comment on the incident due to new rules provided by the Director of Sports who sought to prevent drivers from criticizing the organization.
“The problem is that I cannot share my opinion on this subject because I could be penalized,” Verstappen told journalists. “It is therefore better not to talk about it.
“I think it’s better not to talk about it. Everything I say or try to say about it, it could cause me trouble. ”
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When asked if he was frustrated to have to remain silent on such questions, Verstappen said: “It’s just the world in which we live”.
He added: “You cannot fully share your opinion because it is not appreciated, apparently, or people cannot manage the truth.
“For me, honestly, it’s better for me if I don’t need to say too much, it also saves time because we must already do a lot.
“It’s honestly how everything becomes. Everyone is super sensitive to everything. And then, of course, what we have currently, we cannot be critical anyway. So it’s good, less to speak, even better for me. ”
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Verstappen referred to the latest FIA sports code which includes a new rule prohibiting: “All the words, acts or writings that caused injuries or moral losses to the FIA.”
Drivers can be prohibited for 10,000 euros ($ 11,300) for the first offense, but can be suspended for a month and have accosted championship points for having repeatedly violated the new rule.
Last reverse
While Verstappen held his language, the director of the Red Bull team, Christian Horner, said that the decision was “difficult” to take.
“I don’t know where Max was supposed to go to this first corner,” he told Sky Sports.
The FIA published its reasons for having given Verstappen a penalty on its website, declaring that it “had left the track and obtained a lasting advantage which was not returned.”
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He added: “Usually, the reference penalty for leaving the track and obtaining a lasting advantage is 10 seconds. However, since it was the first round and the incident, we considered that it is an attenuating circumstance and imposed a penalty of 5 seconds instead.”
This is the last setback of what has been a turbulent season so far for Red Bull and Verstappen – with the driver to reject the rumors that he could leave the team.
The 27 -year -old has been openly critical of the car performance in recent weeks, but has been at least supported by a separate improvement in Saudi Arabia who saw him able to compete with his rivals.
Verstappen, however, is still third in the standings, two points behind Lando Norris and 12 behind the current leader Piastri.
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