In a thrilling turn of events at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, chaos unfolded on the very first lap as Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda collided, prompting a safety car deployment. The drama did not end there, as pole-sitter Max Verstappen found himself in hot water with a controversial penalty.
Gasly and Tsunoda, starting in eighth and ninth positions, found themselves entangled at Turn 4 in a high-stakes battle for track position. The clash between the AlphaTauri and AlphaTauri drivers resulted in Gasly’s abrupt exit from the race, slamming his car into the barriers and forcing the safety car onto the track. Tsunoda, although attempting to soldier on, was ultimately forced to retire due to the extensive damage sustained by his car.
Meanwhile, at the front of the pack, Verstappen’s aggressive defense of his lead against McLaren’s Oscar Piastri raised eyebrows. The Dutchman’s off-track maneuver to maintain his position left Piastri and onlookers questioning the fairness of the move. Despite Verstappen’s protestations of innocence, race stewards deemed his actions worthy of a five-second penalty, much to the frustration of the reigning world champion who expressed his displeasure over the team radio.
The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix delivered a spectacle of unpredictability and controversy right from the start, setting the stage for a race filled with tension and intrigue.