If there’s one thing that can fire up a bunch of racing fans on the internet, it’s a move like the one Max Verstappen pulled off at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. And this one got everyone talking. Especially NASCAR fans, and not in a good way.
The Move That Got Everyone Talking
Verstappen, the three-time Formula 1 World Champion and Red Bull Racing’s poster boy, started on pole in Jeddah. The Red Bull ace had a lightning-fast qualifying session and lined up ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Mercedes’ George Russell, who were sitting in P2 and P3, ready to pounce on the Dutch driver.
As the lights went out, Piastri got off to a flyer. He was neck and neck with Verstappen going into Turn 1. Now, here’s where things got messy. Piastri had the inside line, and was just slightly ahead, but definitely close enough to put pressure on Verstappen.
But instead of giving space or backing off, the Red Bull driver let off his brakes, drove over the run-off area, skipped the apex completely, and re-joined the track still in front. The move was immediately questioned by commentators and fans alike.
Piastri came on the radio saying, “He needs to give that back—I was ahead.” F1 rules clearly say: if a driver leaves the track and gains an advantage, they are supposed to give the place back. Verstappen didn’t. So, the stewards hit him with a five-second penalty soon after, which he served during his pit stop. Piastri eventually got ahead and took the win. But by then, the drama had already exploded online.
NASCAR Fans Pile On
Ryan Vargas, a NASCAR Canada driver, tweeted about how painful F1 has become to watch, calling the racing standards “garbage.” He wrote, “F1 is so vehemently frustrating to watch. Driving standards are garbage, tracks negate any opportunity for side by side racing and when they ARE side by side, it’s a game of running a guy off because it’s ‘my corner.’”
That tweet lit the fuse. Suddenly, tons of NASCAR fans jumped in. One said that moves like this “kills the moment.” Another fan joked, “Meanwhile NASCAR slams people out of the way all the of the time because ‘history.’”
Some fans pointed out how F1 drivers and team principals constantly complain about who was “ahead at the apex.” Ironically, many also admitted that NASCAR hasn’t exactly been drama-free lately either, especially in the Xfinity Series with all the wrecks and questionable moves.
My brother in Christ did you watch the last two xfinity races.
All racing driving etiquette it seems now is nonexistent for the most part.
The my corner thing is a big problem.
— The Pirelli Ultra Soft (@ReturnDaRainbow)
Still, the outrage was real. One fan even said both F1 and NASCAR are being run like “clown shows.”
At the end of the day, it’s just racing—but it’s clear fans are craving good old wheel-to-wheel battles without all the politics and penalties. Whether you’re into open wheels or stock cars, one thing’s for sure: the passion is alive, and when drivers pull stunts like Verstappen did, everyone’s got something to say.