Max Verstappen was handed a 10-second penalty at the start of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after an ambitious attempt to pass Oscar Piastri led to contact between the two drivers.
Verstappen, who apologized to Piastri for the incident, was visibly frustrated with race officials and made his displeasure clear both during and after the race.
The 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix kicked off with immediate drama. As the lights went out and the race began, Verstappen spotted an opening on the inside of Piastri’s McLaren and dived for it. However, the gap closed quickly, resulting in contact between the two cars.
Verstappen spun 360 degrees but quickly recovered and rejoined the race. Piastri, on the other hand, struggled more, falling to the back of the grid before managing to finish in 10th place. Verstappen finished the race in 5th.
Following the incident, Verstappen was given a 10-second penalty, a decision that did not sit well with the Red Bull driver. Over the radio, he expressed his frustration, saying, “Can we get 20 seconds, too? Stupid idiots.”
Verstappen’s comments were a reflection of his ongoing tension with race control and the FIA, which has been a recurring theme throughout the season.
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