Max Verstappen remains tight-lipped over penalty at Saudi Arabian GP
Max Verstappen on the podium after finishing second.
Photograph: Darko Bandić/AP
Max Verstappen has implied it is all but impossible to express an opinion for risk of censure by Formula One's governing body the FIA, when he refused to air his clear displeasure at the penalty he was given during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Advertisement
After the race Verstappen declined to discuss the race after the top three drivers climbed from their cars in parc ferme. He was fined by the FIA for swearing in a press conference at the Singapore GP last year and this season has been far more guarded and short in answering questions and speaking to the media in Jeddah suggested he felt constrained by the rulebook.
Related: Oscar Piastri storms to Saudi Arabian F1 GP win and now leads title race
'The problem is I cannot share my opinion about it because I might get penalised so it's better not to talk about,' he said. 'Anything I say or try to say about it might get me in trouble.'
The inference that was impossible to ignore is that any negative remarks about the FIA or its steward's decisions may prompt punishment.
Advertisement
'I know I cannot swear in here but at the same time you also cannot not be critical in any form that might harm or danger,' he said. 'Then you get the sheet out, there is a lot of lines. That's why it is better not to talk about it because you can put yourself in trouble and I don't think anyone wants that.'
McLaren's Oscar Piastri won the race from second on the grid, beating Verstappen by 2.8 seconds but the decisive moment as far as Red Bull and the world champion were concerned had come within seconds of the lights going out.
Verstappen had started from pole on the short run to the first corner but Piastri made a very quick start and had eased just in front as they went through turn one. Piastri held his line and Verstappen went wide, cutting the corner at turn to to maintain his lead.
The world champion believed he had not been given enough room, while Piastri felt that Verstappen had not even tried to make the corner. Red Bull opted not to give the place back and the stewards investigated awarded Verstappen a five-second penalty.
Advertisement
When he took it during his pit stop, Piastri went into the lead from which point, in clean air he could not be caught
His Red Bull team principal Christian Horner did observe that he felt the penalty had been too much. 'We have this notion of let them race,' he said. 'I don't know where Max was supposed to go at that first corner. We have lost the race by 2.8 seconds so yeah it's tough.'
The McLaren chief executive, Zak Brown, felt it had been the correct decision. 'I definitely thought a penalty was deserved,' he said.
'Oscar was clearly up the inside. Got a better start, you need to use the racetrack, whether it's a five-second penalty or give the position back you could go either way but I think it was definitely appropriate. It was Oscar's corner and at some point you have just got to concede.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Ab-Soul Keeps Hip-Hop's Spirit Alive At Red Bull BC One
On Sunday (May 18), over a dozen of the country's most talented breakers arrived in Denver to leave it all on the floor at the Red Bull BC One Cypher to wrap its 2025 U.S. season. In total, 16 B-Boys and 16 B-Girls — including Olympians B-Girl Logistx and B-Girl Kate — united to compete for a chance to advance to the world finals in Tokyo later this year, but first, they had to battle one another. Camaraderie is shared between the dancers as they stretch and get in the zone, but on center stage, the mutual respect is channeled into elite routines. Ahead of the main event, Red Bull hosted the competitors as well as a select group of media and content creators and offered a warm welcome into its world of breaking. This included movement workshops, workout classes, and crew battles. At the Red Bull Camp, a new 2v2 format called Breakfighter was introduced, pairing breakers with gamers in a crossover clash featuring the iconic Japanese game, Street Fighter. At stake, a chance to win a trip to the Tokyo finals. The event also featured Salt Break City, an all-girl battle that paired B-girls with all-style dancers, uniting the power of breaking with the versatility and style of street dancing. Once it was time for the BC One, the camp closed shop and the activity moved to the city's Mission Ballroom to host hundreds of ticketholders excited for the competition. Each round grew more intense as one by one, breakers were knocked out of the competition, with many of the battles close. Judged by Red Bull BC One All-Star B-Boy Taisuke, B-Girl Beta, and OG B-Boy Ken Swift of the Rock Steady Crew, each dancer was ranked on creativity, musicality, and flow. A performance from Ab-Soul kept the Hip-Hop-centered event culturally grounded as he repped California with 'All That' and 'Do Better.' 'Man you know im KRS-2,' joked the Soul Burger performer with VIBE before taking the stage. 'This is what I really came to do. I really came to represent and keep the spirit alive. Keep the roots healthy as it [Hip-Hop] grows older. You know what I'm saying, with break dancing being one of the pillars. So I'm grateful to be a part of it.' In the end, B-Girl Logistix and B-Boy Hijck rose above their competitors and earned their respective spots in the finals. 'What's important is how you put your fingerprint on this dance,' explained Hijck, the now two-time Red Bull BC One Cypher USA champion, in a statement. 'It's not just about signature moves – it's about signature style. I can't wait to represent [the] USA, but most importantly, represent Hawaii.' 'I feel proud of myself for navigating life while training for this battle,' added B-Girl Logistx, also the 2021 Red Bull BC One World Champion. 'I am grateful for this win and the people who supported me on this journey. I'm ready for Tokyo, but this time I am working my way up from the National Final. In order to do this opportunity justice, I have to win in Tokyo.' Take a look inside the Red Bull BC One Cypher below. More from Ab-Soul Speaks On Joey Bada$$ And West Coast Rap Feud: "It's A Sport" Joey Bada$$, Ab-Soul Trade Bars Amid Coastal Rhyme War With Ray Vaughn Ab-Soul Teases Possible Kendrick Lamar Super Bowl Involvement In Cryptic Post Best of 10 Rap Albums Snubbed Of The Grammys' Album Of The Year Award 21 Black Entertainers Who Are Almost EGOT Winners 11 Black-Owned Games To Play At The Next Function Or Kick Back
New York Times
10 hours ago
- New York Times
Did Max Verstappen get off lightly? A poll. Plus, a fix for the Monaco GP
Prime Tire Newsletter | This is The Athletic's twice-weekly F1 newsletter. Sign up here to receive Prime Tire directly in your inbox on Tuesday and Friday. Welcome back to Prime Tire, where we're basking in the glow of our largest ever response to a poll on this newsletter. Or so Patrick tells me, at any rate. We could already see in our numbers on The Athletic pretty much instantly after the Spanish Grand Prix that interest in Max Verstappen's latest controversy was high, so on Tuesday, we offered our PT subscribers the chance to have their say on the fallout. The results are in, and they make for tough reading for both Verstappen and FIA officials. I'm Alex, and Madeline Coleman will be along later. Our survey asked if Verstappen's 10-second penalty for colliding with George Russell late in Barcelona, which, with the Dutchman's non-apology apology a day later, all but confirmed was a deliberate move, was an appropriate sanction. There were three options to vote — in agreement, that it was too lenient, or too harsh. Advertisement All told, 93.4 percent of you were in agreement that Verstappen's move merited a penalty, with the other 6.6 percent feeling his sanction was actually too harsh. But the bigger story is that 81.4 percent of those who thought Verstappen deserved a penalty felt the 10-second penalty didn't go far enough. In our request to explain your votes, the words 'disqualified,' 'black flag,' and 'ban' came up repeatedly. Here's a selection of that feedback: Given Verstappen will be on the verge of a race ban until after the next two races, this topic isn't going to go away any time soon. And if something similar occurs again, as one high-profile paddock figure told me this week, a precedent has now been firmly set. And now, to something else that has been much discussed in recent weeks. Please bear with me, but I needed to get this out there before the F1 Commission discusses the failed Monaco-specific race rules at its next meeting. Luke Smith recently revealed that this is scheduled for the gap between July's upcoming Silverstone and Spa races. Obviously, the team principal and senior officials who make up that panel are readers. (Ed. note: Unlikely.) Anyway, while listening to an episode of The Race's excellent 'Bring Back V10s' podcast on the 1993 Monaco Grand Prix, the moment where Gerhard Berger dived into the pits and transformed his race got me thinking. That all came from the then-Ferrari driver changing tires and going on a charge that took Berger past his teammate, Jean Alesi, and into a podium fight in the race, where the win eventually went to Ayrton Senna — before he tangled with Williams driver Damon Hill and retired. And this is how I think F1 can resolve its Racing Bulls and Williams-botched Monaco-specific racing rules. Here goes: My thinking (yes, there was some) is that this approach would increase the likelihood of pitstop shambles (a la Red Bull in the 2016 Monaco GP) and also makes things (slightly) more meritocratic. I can't deny it's contrived, but it's basically a more sporting version of the chicane-cutting joker lap George Russell suggested the drivers take anyway, as it would get them out of traffic twice in the race and mean they're potentially pushing to overtake rivals via the pits. Stefano Domenicali, Mohammed Ben Sulayem — I'm available for your call to discuss implementing this at any time. Earlier this week, the Cadillac Formula 1 Team announced its first official partnership: Tommy Hilfiger. The iconic New York fashion house's F1 ties date back to the 1990s, when it sponsored Team Lotus. What may surprise some F1 fans is that Lawrence Stroll, now the owner of Aston Martin's F1 team, helped bring the American designer to the pinnacle of motorsport. From there, Hilfiger's involvement in the space grew, launching a motorsports-inspired capsule collection with Team Lotus' colors in 1994 and later becoming Ferrari's clothing sponsor in 1998. Advertisement The brand's most recent involvement in F1 was a partnership with Mercedes' F1 team (which ended in 2024) and F1 Academy. Hilfiger currently supports Alba Larsen (above, left, Tommy Hilfiger) in the all-women's racing series. It has also put its name into the upcoming F1 movie and launched The APXGP Collection this week, the same day the Cadillac partnership was announced. Plenty of buzz surrounded Cadillac since it received approval to be the 11th team on the grid next year, particularly as rumors brew about its driver lineup. One thing that the team has made clear is that it will be an American team, operating under an American license, and this multiyear partnership with Tommy Hilfiger, as Cadillac's apparel partner and lifestyle sponsor, only strengthens those ties. 'Tommy Hilfiger is an American original, and we're proud to welcome them as our first official partner,'' said Dan Towriss, CEO of Cadillac Formula 1 Team, in the announcement. 'This collaboration represents the fusion of two bold, innovative brands — where performance meets iconic style. As we build a team that reflects American ambition on the global F1 stage, this partnership sets the tone for what's ahead.' While Hilfiger is a well-known name within the F1 world, what jumped out to me during my conversation with Cadillac team principal Graeme Lowdon during the Miami GP weekend last month is that there are a number of brands interested in partnering with the new squad. They're both well-known organizations, and 'a lot that are new to Formula One, so that suggests that we're offering something new' – per Lowdon. 'What will happen to the grass?' This was, naturally, the first question we asked when the news that a Red Bull F1 car had been pitched (SEE WHAT I DID THERE??) into a race against three Leeds United players at their Elland Road stadium. Well, it turns out, very little. The RB7, driven by Red Bull junior driver and Formula Two racer Arvid Lindblad, skipped between the penalty areas — bar some start wheelspin that would put Lando Norris to shame, and needing a very wide, slow, turning circle at half distance. Advertisement But it didn't churn up the turf, which probably had plenty to do with its 640kg weight. Red Bull's 2025 car should be operating at the current minimum weight of 800kg — a 20 percent difference that might've got Lindblad mired in mud and in serious trouble with the Leeds ground staff. Car weight is quite the topic in F1 given a small step to get back towards nimble car designs is coming in the 2026 rules reset. But a full return towards the near 20-year stretch, cars weighed around 600kg from the early 1990s until the early 2010s, with the new target weight set at 768kg, this is not. Lindblad won the day, but Red Bull's press release announcing the race suggested there's more content (shudder) to come on its social media channels in the form of an agility test and some sort of penalty shootout. Something tells me the footballers, soccer players (they absolutely made me change this!) will indeed get their revenge. Our Leeds United correspondent, Beren Cross, has all the details on how this challenge came about at the 2024 British Grand Prix, with Red Bull a Leeds sponsor. But this is far from the first time Red Bull has arranged such a cross-sport stunt. Back in 2016, then Red Bull ace Daniel Ricciardo used an RB8 to scrum down with the forwards from Bath's premiership rugby squad (above). No formal winner of the challenge was revealed (the video ending with Ricciardo using a rugby ball to abuse a drone, of course). But it highlights how Red Bull uses its late V8 era cars for most of its F1 show runs — the RB7 and RB8, the cars that took Sebastian Vettel to his final two titles with the team in 2011 and 2012. This has much to do with how the hybrid-engined cars from 2014 onwards rarely leave any F1 factories due to the complexities of their power units. Oh, and Lindblad has been in the headlines plenty this week, as Red Bull's longstanding request for the 17-year-old to get an early F1 super license will be adjudicated by the FIA this month. Verstappen could be banned, and a hole might temporarily appear in the Red Bull/Racing Bulls driver stable. 🇨🇦 Lance Stroll looks set to race in Montreal after his Spain injury DNS — according to this report. Luke explained what happened with the Aston Martin driver in Barcelona in our regular post-race mailbag feature with Madeline this week. 🤝 Lewis Hamilton met UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in 10 Downing Street on Wednesday (side note — my birthday, spent largely eating Tacos in Peckham). They discussed education reform and Hamilton's Mission 44 charity initiative. Advertisement ‼️ Red Bull will give Yuki Tsunoda the time it denied to Liam Lawson, according to this story on F1's official website. This is after his disastrous Spanish GP weekend and seven-point haul since leaving Racing Bulls (Verstappen has scored 101 in the same seven-race stretch). 📫 Love Prime Tire? Check out The Athletic's other newsletters.
Fox Sports
11 hours ago
- Fox Sports
Top 25 college athletes with highest NIL valuations
The complicated, frustrating and often murky world of NIL (name, image and likeness) has touched every corner of college sports. From college football and basketball to gymnastics and softball, the landscape of college athletics drastically changed four years ago when the NCAA changed rules to allow student athletes to profit from NIL. Names like Shedeur Sanders, Bronny James and Livvy Dunne topped the charts when it comes to NIL valuations in the past. In fact, we got a sense of how much money Cooper Flagg agreed to in NIL endorsements during his one year at Duke recently, as he's expected to become the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. As the summer approaches, we're one step closer to the 2025-26 academic year, and there's a new crop of athletes topping the NIL charts. Remember, NIL deals are not solely dependent on athletic performance on the field. Sanders, who had a reported $4.7 million valuation last year — the highest among college football players — was not a Heisman Trophy finalist and went on to be a fifth-round pick of the Cleveland Browns. Arch Manning, who had the second-highest reported NIL valuation heading into last year's college football season at $3.8 million, had not started a college game before last season. With that, here is a look at the top 25 college athletes with the highest NIL valuations heading into the 2025-26 academic year. *NIL valuations are from which calculates the optimized NIL opportunity for athletes relative to the overall NIL market and projects outcomes over the next 12 months. 1. Texas QB Arch Manning ($6.8 million) Manning instantly became one of the most-valued athletes in college sports the moment he stepped foot on campus in Austin, Texas in 2023, holding a $3.8 million NIL valuation at the time. Manning has reportedly inked deals or partnered with EA Sports, Red Bull, Uber and Vuori as he prepares for his first full season as Texas' starting quarterback. While Manning is the highest-valued NIL athlete in college sports, he doesn't take any money from Texas' NIL collective, the Houston Chronicle previously reported. 2. Miami (Fla.) QB Carson Beck ($4.3 million) Beck initially declared for the 2025 NFL Draft this offseason before surprisingly transferring to Miami. It was rumored that Beck received $3 to $4 million from Miami's NIL collective to make the move to South Florida, moving on from Georgia after he helped the Bulldogs win the SEC title in 2024. According to On3, Beck has inked 11 deals and partnerships over his college career, with Chipotle, Beats By Dre and Powerade headlining the notable brands. 3. Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith ($4.2 million) Following a standout freshman season, Smith shot up the board as one of the most valuable players in college sports. He was recently unveiled as a co-cover star athlete for "College Football 26," adding to the list of notable endorsement deals he has secured. He has reported deals with American Eagle, Lululemon, Red Bull and Nintendo, among others. Smith also agreed to a local car dealership deal — which appeared to gift him a new Mercedes — in May. Before he even steps on the court in Provo, Utah, Dybantsa is already one of the highest-valued players in college sports with reported deals with Nike and Red Bull. It was reported at the time of his commitment that he secured a deal worth around $7 million, giving one of the top prospects in the 2026 NBA Draft a significant payday. 5. LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier ($3.7 million) Nussmeier opted to forgo early entry into the 2025 NFL Draft, making him one of the top prospects in 2026. Set to enter his second season as LSU's starter, Nussmeier has multiple reported NIL deals and partnerships, including Powerade and EA Sports, among others. 6. South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers ($3.7 million) Sellers was one of the SEC's breakout stars in 2024, winning the conference's Offensive Freshman of the Year Award. He has reportedly secured NIL deals with Collegiate Legends and Cheez-It, and another strong year could help him continue to climb this list. 7. Florida QB DJ Lagway ($3.7 million) Similar to Sellers, Lagway was also a breakout star in 2024. He went 6-1 in the seven starts he made as a true freshman, helping Florida turn its season around. He has reportedly earned an NIL deal with Nintendo since the end of the season, while Gatorade has featured him in a commercial, as he agreed to a deal with the iconic brand before his freshman year. Lagway certainly seems to be a candidate to be No. 1 on this list next year if Manning declares for the draft. 8. Clemson QB Cade Klubnik ($3.4 million) Klubnik, who FOX Sports lead college football analyst Joel Klatt recently named as his top quarterback for the 2025 season, is entering his third year as Clemson's starter. He led the Tigers to an ACC title last season and reportedly has existing NIL deals with Rhoback and ONIT, among others. 9. Penn State QB Drew Allar ($3.1 million) Allar turned down early entry into the 2025 NFL Draft despite speculation he could be an early-round pick. According to On3, Allar hasn't logged any new NIL deals since he helped Penn State reach the CFP last season. However, he reportedly has pre-existing deals with Bose and Frosted Flakes. 10. Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt ($3.1 million) Leavitt only has a pair of reported NIL endorsement deals, agreeing to partnerships with Jones Ford Verde Valley and Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers, but he also agreed to a deal with Arizona State's NIL collective in January, shutting down transfer rumors. 11. Michigan QB Bryce Underwood ($3 million) After dealing with struggles at quarterback during the 2024 season, Michigan made Underwood a reported offer through its NIL collective worth $10.5 million over four years to get him to flip his commitment from LSU to the Wolverines. Underwood, ranked as the top quarterback recruit in the Class of 2025, wound up flipping his commitment to remain in his home state of Michigan. 12. Texas Tech F JT Toppin ($2.8 million) Toppin has the highest NIL valuation among returning college basketball players this upcoming year. It was reported that Toppin is expected to earn $4 million in NIL after forgoing entry into the 2025 NBA Draft. Toppin won Big 12 Player of the Year and was named a second-team All-American after scoring 18.2 points per game in the 2024-25 season. 13. Duke QB Darian Mensah ($2.8 million) Duke landed Mensah in the transfer portal after he had a strong first season as Tulane's starting quarterback (2,723 passing yards, 22 passing touchdowns, six interceptions) in 2024. It was reported that Mensah earned an $8 million deal from Duke's NIL collective to transfer to the school in December 2024. 14. Oklahoma QB John Mateer ($2.7 million) Mateer is also among the list of the most valuable college athletes after transferring from Washington State to Oklahoma this offseason. Klatt recently ranked him as his third-best quarterback for the 2025 season after he threw for 3,139 yards, 29 touchdowns and seven interceptions to go with 826 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns. 15. Alabama WR Ryan Williams ($2.7 million) The other co-cover star athlete of "College Football 26" is among the most valuable athletes in college sports for 2025-26. Williams emerged as one of the best receivers as a 17-year-old freshman in 2024, recording 865 receiving yards and eight receiving touchdowns. Williams also has a pretty diverse list of NIL endorsement deals as well, reportedly securing partnerships with Uber Eats, Hollister and Sally Hansen. 16. TCU QB Josh Hoover ($2.4 million) Hoover doesn't have any listed NIL brand deals on On3 beyond the one he has with TCU's NIL collective. However, after his strong 2024 season (3,949 yards, 27 touchdowns, 11 interceptions), he could've earned more this offseason. Tennessee offered Hoover roughly $1 million more in NIL money than what he's currently receiving at TCU, which is at least seven figures, The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported in April . 17. Ohio State S Caleb Downs ($2.4 million) Ohio State has two of the highest-valued non-quarterbacks in college football entering the 2025 season. Downs, who is arguably the best defensive player in the nation (81 total tackles, two interceptions in 2024), has a few reported NIL brand deals, highlighted by partnerships with Panini, Beats by Dre and American Eagle. He also signed an NIL deal with Ohio State's collective, The Foundation, when he transferred from Alabama following Nick Saban's retirement in 2024. 18. North Carolina State QB CJ Bailey ($2.3 million) Bailey doesn't have any known NIL deals with brands, but he signed a new deal with NC State's collective, One Pack, in December 2024 to remain in Raleigh, North Carolina. That deal helped ensure Bailey wouldn't transfer after he scored 22 total touchdowns to go with 2,413 passing yards as a true freshman in 2024. 19. Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola ($2.3 million) Following a wild recruiting process that saw him commit to two schools before landing at Nebraska in 2024, Raiola has earned a few NIL deals with notable brands. He reportedly signed a deal with Panini right after he committed to Nebraska in December 2023, before signing a deal with Campus Ink early in his freshman season. He reportedly signed an endorsement deal with Adidas in April, following in the footsteps of his idol, Patrick Mahomes. He also has a deal with Nebraska's NIL collective, 1890. 20. Michigan F Yaxel Lendeborg ($2.3 million) Lendeborg announced he was transferring from UAB to Michigan in April, but he wasn't fully committed to the Wolverines until he removed his name from the 2025 NBA Draft in May. The top-ranked player in the transfer portal this offseason by 247 Sports, Lendeborg received an NIL package believed to be in the neighborhood of $3 million to return to school, CBS Sports previously reported. Lendeborg was viewed as a potential first-round pick prior to his decision to remove his name from the 2025 NBA Draft, as he was named first-team All-AAC the past two seasons. 21. Arkansas QB Taylen Green ($2.1 million) Green earned a few endorsement deals with local companies during his time at Boise State before he transferred to Arkansas ahead of the 2024 season. After transferring, he reportedly signed a deal with the school's NIL collective, Arkansas Edge. It's unclear how much that deal is worth, but the collective helped Green land an endorsement deal with a local car dealership in 2024, which landed him a Ram 1500 truck. 22. Florida G Boogie Fland ($2.1 million) Similar to Lendeborg, Fland was one of the top players in the transfer portal this offseason but also declared for the 2025 NBA Draft. He removed his name from the draft in May, while simultaneously announcing his transfer from Arkansas to Florida. The defending champion's NIL collective reportedly gave Fland a package worth over $2 million, according to CBS Sports. 23. UCLA G Donovan Dent ($2 million) Dent, who won Mountain West Player of the Year at New Mexico this past season, reportedly received a $3 million NIL deal to transfer to UCLA in March, according to The Santa Fe New Mexican. He received $2 million of that deal up front, while he'll earn the other $1 million during the 2025-26 season. 24. UCLA QB Nico Iamaleava ($2 million) Iameleava arguably became the face of the NIL debate this offseason. He transferred out of Tennessee after the program reportedly denied his request for a pay raise from its NIL collective, seeking $4 million annually. He wound up at UCLA, agreeing to an NIL deal rumored to be in the $1.5 million range, according to Front Office Sports. That's actually a pay decrease from what he was getting at Tennessee, as he was set to earn $2.4 million from the Vols' collective in 2025, per ESPN. Iamaleava was also one of 11 college football players to sign a deal with Beats by Dre ahead of the 2024 season. 25. Auburn QB Jackson Arnold ($2 million) Arnold was among the handful of quarterback transfers who reportedly earned a multi-million-dollar payday this offseason. It has been rumored that Arnold received a deal worth at least $2 million to transfer from Oklahoma, which got a laugh out of former Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron. Arnold finished the year with 1,421 passing yards, 12 passing touchdowns, three interceptions, 444 rushing yards and three rushing scores. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily. recommended Get more from College Football Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
