F1 2025: Max Verstappen in trouble at Saudi Arabia Grand Prix as Red Bull star out following crash

Max Verstappen, Red Bull, Saudi Arabia, 2025 — Photo: © IMAGO

Saudi Arabia Grand Prix

Verstappen in trouble at Saudi Arabia Grand Prix as Red Bull star out following crash

The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix got off to a stunning start

By Sam Cook.

Sunday 20 April 2025 19:22

Yuki Tsunoda crashed out on lap one of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix to undo his good work in Saturday's qualifying, with team-mate Max Verstappen being given a five second penalty for a Turn 1 incident.

Tsunoda's eighth place in qualifying meant that Red Bull had two drivers starting in the top eight for the first time this year, but collided with Pierre Gasly in the early stages of the lap to damage his car beyond reasonable repair.

Gasly also had to retire, with his badly damaged Alpine causing a safety car to be called at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in a chaotic race start.

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Meanwhile, Tsunoda's team-mate Max Verstappen had a poor start from pole position, and was involved in a huge battle with Oscar Piastri heading in to turn one, with Verstappen going off-track and just maintaining his lead over the McLaren driver thanks to that illegal foray off the tarmac.

Rather than being asked to hand the position back to Piastri, Verstappen was slammed with a five-second time penalty, which is likely to hamper his race later on.

Nightmare start for Red Bull

However, Tsunoda's crash means he will score zero points, and Verstappen's penalty may have severely damaged his chances of winning the race, all on lap one.

Following Verstappen's attempt at defending his first-place position from Piastri, the Australian driver pleaded with engineer Tom Stallard on team radio, saying about Verstappen: "He was never going to make that corner regardless whether I was there or not."

Meanwhile, Verstappen was not happy after being handed the FIA verdict: "Well that is f****** lovely," he proclaimed.

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Red Bull Max Verstappen Oscar Piastri Yuki Tsunoda Pierre Gasly Saudi Arabian Grand Prix