By Graham Duxbury @TheRealDux

Max Verstappen’s penalty at last weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix has sparked considerable debate within the Formula One community. The five-second penalty resulted from the much-publicised first-corner incident that many say influenced the final standings.

While some have sided with the race stewards - who described the decision as a “slam dunk” due to what they deemed a clear-cut infringement – Verstappen fans are far from convinced.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner was quick to defend his driver at the team’s post-race presser, calling the penalty “harsh” and suggesting that the evidence tells a different story.

According to Horner, photographic proof exists showing that Verstappen was “clearly ahead” at the critical moment in question, casting doubt on the rationale behind the stewards’ ruling.

His remarks have only added fuel to the fire, intensifying the ongoing conversation about consistency and transparency in race officiating by the FIA.

The situation has reignited a broader conversation about the application of rules in F1 and whether subjective judgments are having too much impact on race outcomes.