Source:REUTERS/JAKUB PORZYCKI I
[Saba Sports News] The controversy surrounding the F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix has yet to subside when Max Verstappen’s incident of a sour face on the podium caused another stir. Johnny Herbert, a former F1 driver, criticized Verstappen during an interview with a Dutch media outlet, accusing him of not even bothering to fake a smile, essentially trampling on the spirit of sportsmanship. This controversy arose due to Verstappen’s unusual behavior on the podium. When Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc were celebrating with champagne, the Dutchman merely mechanically took a sip, showing no interaction throughout. The spark for this event traces back to the second corner of the race’s first lap. After Verstappen was penalized for cutting the corner and gaining an advantage, he refused to return the position and “precisely positioned” himself within the 5-second penalty to secure second place. Christian Horner, the Red Bull team principal, presented in-car screenshots as justification but was directly dismissed by Herbert as a desperate attempt, pointing out that Andrea Kimi Antonelli immediately let him pass under similar circumstances, which is what a professional driver should do. Ironically, Verstappen responded to the press after the race with a statement about truth being ignored, which contrasts sharply with his aggressive style on the track. Psychology experts note that when a dominant driver loses an edge, they often exhibit defensive indifference.