Buxton backs Stewards' 'Slam dunk' view of Verstappen's penalty

For a Turn 1 incident on the first tour of the race in Jeddah, Verstappen was given a 5 second penalty by the Stewards for "leaving the track and gaining an advantage".

Will Buxton, former F1TV presenter, wrote of the decision: “Verstappen one a slam dunk to my mind. Zero wiggle room on that.”

The reigning world champion's penalty, however, was not the only one the race officials issued. Liam Lawson was also handed one for overtaking Jack Doohan off the track on the 28th tour of the race, something Buxton could not wrap his head around. “But the Lawson one I cannot get my head around. The move for position was done and long since completed on the straight. Very odd.”

Doohan had in fact already passed Lawson, which meant that the advantage the New Zealander gained had already been neutralised.

Lawson eventually finished the race twelfth, meaning he is yet to score his first points of the 2025 Formula 1 season. His teammate, Isack Hadjar, did manage to nab the last points scoring place having finished the race in P10.