Former World Champion Damon Hill stands by the controversial decision to penalize Max Verstappen for his track limits violation during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, even though he is aware that many others disagree with the ruling.
The incident occurred when Verstappen, the polesitter, engaged in a heated battle with Oscar Piastri for the lead at Turn 1, resulting in Verstappen going off track to gain an advantage. The FIA stewards subsequently imposed a five-second penalty on Verstappen, which he served during his pit stop. This penalty ultimately cost Verstappen the race victory, as Piastri went on to win and take the lead in the Drivers’ Championship.
Hill took to social media to express his support for the penalty, citing a tweet that questioned the validity of Verstappen’s move. Despite acknowledging that his opinion might not be popular among fans, Hill emphasized his stance on the matter.
Verstappen, on the other hand, chose not to comment extensively on the penalty after the race, hinting at the negative impact of social media scrutiny on athletes’ freedom of expression. The Red Bull driver expressed caution in his responses to media questions, highlighting the challenges of sharing honest opinions in the current social media landscape.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, however, was more vocal in his criticism of the penalty, deeming it “very harsh.” Horner presented evidence to the media, including an onboard screenshot, to support his claim that Verstappen was ahead of Piastri at the corner apex. He argued that the decision was severe and contested the legitimacy of the penalty imposed on Verstappen.
The aftermath of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix sees a divided opinion among key figures in the Formula 1 community, with Hill and Horner taking contrasting views on the contentious penalty that altered the course of the race and the championship standings.