Helmut Marko has criticised F1’s stewards for a lack of consistency following 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen’s penalty at🐓💃 the start of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Verstappen was hit with a five-second penalty after the stewards deemed that he had left the track and gained an advantage when battling 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Oscar Piastri into Turn 1 on the opening lap of the race.

Piastri had 🔥made a better start than Verstappen and was ahead at the apex of the corner.

Verstappen braked late and cut the corner to maintain t🐼he posit𓆏ion.

As he didn’t relinquish the place, the stewards handed him a five-second penalty, a decision which ultimately co▨mpromised his race and his chances of winning the race.

Marko was left unimpressed by the decision, pointing t💃o similar incidents in the support races, suc🥂h as Formula 2, that went unpunished.

Speaking to Sky Germany, Marko said: “I think the race was lost at the start. And really, where was Max supposed to go? We watched the Formula 2 ra🥃ces, and the saꦅme thing happened to two or three drivers.

“They 𝕴were only given warnings. So in our view, the five-second penalty was a bit harsh… the inconsistency in stewarding is difficult to understand.

“Piastri was ahead at the start, but at the very la𝔉st braking zone, Max was slightly ahead again. But it is what it is.”

Verstappen pace “gives us confidence”

D🌳espite the penalty, Verstappen finished second, withi♐n three seconds of eventual race winner Piastri.

It was a strong performance fro🐻m Verstappen, a week on from a nightmare Bahrain Grand Prix.

In Bahrain, Verstappen finished a lowly sixth, overtakℱing Alpine’s Pierre Gasly on the final lap of the race.

Their lack of pace led to a ‘crisis meeting’ taking place after the race between Red B♈ull’s senior figures.

Consequently, the lead-up to this weekend in Saudi Arabia was centred around Verstappen’🐟s future amid Red Bull’𓂃s poor form.

Marko bel𓂃ieves Verstappen’s pace gives Red Bull confi༒dence moving forward.

“You could see it - he pulled a three-second gap early on. Piastri was already complaining about tire degradation. When you’re following another car, it’s always tougher,” Marko added. “And on🙈 the second stint with the hard tires, when Max really pushed to the limit, we were closing in again.

“If someone had told us on Friday that we’d finish second, we’d have celebrat🌌ed. But the car changes were so effective that we’re obviously a bit deflated not to bring home the win. Still, we showed we’ve got the speed and tire wear under control - that gi🎃ves us confidence moving forward.”