Herbert Slams Verstappen as "Unprofessional" After Saudi GP Podium Snub

Johnny Herbert has criticized Max Verstappen for being “unprofessional and disrespectful” during the Saudi Arabian GP podium ceremony after finishing second to Oscar Piastri. The former F1 race winner believes Verstappen deserved a harsher 10-second penalty for his first-lap Turn 1 clash with Piastri, instead of the five seconds he received. Verstappen, who started from pole, appeared visibly frustrated post-race, declining to directly address the incident when questioned by David Coulthard. 

On the podium, he noticeably refrained from joining Piastri and Charles Leclerc in the traditional champagne celebration. Herbert pointed to this as poor sportsmanship. Meanwhile, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner defended Verstappen, citing onboard footage that showed the Dutchman “ahead at the apex,” suggesting the penalty was unwarranted. Despite the controversy, Piastri claimed a memorable victory for McLaren, with Leclerc rounding out the podium in third.