Controversial races in F1 are a common occurrence, with the list only getting bigger with time. However, when the stakes are high, such controversial moves can alter the outcomes of races, costing drivers wins, and possibly championships. For instance, an improvisation in safety rules during the Abu Dhabi GP in 2021 enabled Max Verstappen to unlap, giving him an unfair advantage over Lewis Hamilton.
Verstappen ultimately won the race in what was one of the biggest controversies in F1. Several other incidents over the years, like the 2023 Las Vegas GP and the 2024 Austrian GP, have made fans furious over F1’s actions. The most recent addition to this tab was the Saudi Arabian GP that took place on Sunday. Verstappen was once again the center of the debate. However, this time, he was very likely wronged, and this mishap was reflected in the race results.
After the event, a whole army of angry fans blasted F1 and called the management out for its decisions. Among these was Spire Motorsports driver, Carson Hocevar, who posted a hilarious tweet that immediately caught attention.
The Saudi Arabian GP Drama
Although Verstappen started at the pole position, Oscar Piastri’s quick start put him at the front. It did not last long, as the former snatched the lead from him at the first turn itself. However, in doing so, Verstappen ran a little wide. Instead of giving the spot back, he went in front of the Australian driver.
The stewards saw this as a breach and levied a five-second penalty on Verstappen. Despite this, the racer maintained his lead and took full advantage of the clean air. However, after the pit stop where Verstappen’s penalty was implemented, Piastri capitalized and moved to the front.
In the end, Verstappen was unable to catch up and had to settle for the runner-up position. After the race, the Dutch racer was visibly disappointed with the turn of events but chose to remain largely silent. Even in his statement, he was sparse and picked his words rather carefully.
“You can’t share fully your opinion because it’s not appreciated, apparently, or people can’t handle the full truth. For me, honestly, it’s better for me if I don’t need to say too much, it also saves my time because we already have to do so much.”
The decision to penalize Verstappen sparked a massive debate online that polarized audiences. While both sides fired shots at each other, the real target was FIA.
Carson Hocevar’s post on X
NASCAR driver Hocevar took to X and posted an image from last year’s AdventHealth 400 in Kansas. The image showed Kyle Larson and Chris Buescher’s cars on the finish line, with Larson’s No. 7 just a fraction ahead. While Buescher was initially announced as the winner, upon deeper examination, officials revealed that it was Larson who had won the race by 0.001 seconds.
Hocevar’s caption read:
“Nobody:
F1: “I was clearly ahead. That was my corner.”
The post, which was a light-hearted jab at F1’s rules, currently has almost 68,000 views and has gotten many NASCAR fans talking about the controversy.