In a shocking turn of events at the F1 Saudi Grand Prix, the FIA has officially confirmed that top drivers like Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen had their laps deleted during the race. The drama unfolded as Verstappen received a five-second penalty for cutting a corner and maintaining his lead over Oscar Piastri from McLaren. But that’s not all – Verstappen also saw a deleted lap time for exceeding track limits in a controversial move to stay ahead of his rival. This development didn’t sit well with the Dutch driver, who expressed his frustrations with a colorful choice of words over team radio.
The penalty proved costly for Verstappen, as it dashed his hopes of securing a second race victory. Despite this setback, he managed to salvage a second-place finish behind Piastri and ahead of Charles Leclerc from Ferrari. The intense battle on the track further solidified the rivalry between Verstappen and Hamilton, who also had their laps deleted for similar infractions.
Verstappen’s reaction to the penalty was palpable, with his post-race interview being a mere 12 seconds long. His discontent was evident as he made it clear that his priority was to leave the circuit and put the race behind him. The incident stemmed from a challenging start for the Dutch driver, who faced immense pressure to defend his position against a charging McLaren early in the race.
As the dust settles on the Saudi Grand Prix, the F1 world is left buzzing with speculation and anticipation for the next thrilling showdown on the track. Fans are eagerly awaiting the next chapter in the Verstappen-Hamilton saga, as the battle for supremacy in the drivers’ championship heats up. Stay tuned for more updates on this gripping F1 season as the drama continues to unfold on and off the track.