An official document from the FIA, the governing body of Formula 1, explains why Max Verstappen avoided a more severe sanction.

On Sunday, Verstappen started from pole position in the Gran Premio de Arabia Saudí, held on the Corniche Circuit in Yeddah.

However, the Dutchman’s chances of winning the race vanished after receiving a 5-second penalty for an incident in the first race that involved McLaren’s star, Oscar Piastri.

Both drivers entered the first corner tied, with Piastri on the inside and Verstappen on the outside.

As he approached the curve, the Red Bull driver had to leave the track before rejoining the action in the first position.

After being investigated by the commissioners, Verstappen received a sanction for “leaving the track and obtaining a profit”.

Piastri won the race thanks to the Dutchman and Ferrari star, Charles Leclerc.

After the race, Verstappen was visibly a little impressed and refused to participate in the champagne celebration on the podium before Red Bull boss Christian Horner presented images to challenge the sanction.

However, according to the official FIA document, things could have been worse for Verstappen.

The document established that the usual penalty for leaving the track to obtain a profit would be 10 seconds.

However, the FIA ​​explained: «Normally, the base penalty for leaving the track and obtaining a long wind is 10 seconds.

However, given that this was an incident on the first vuelta and the first curve, we considered it an extenuating circumstance and imposed a 5-second penalty.”

Luckily for Verstappen, he will not receive an extra point in his license for his effort with Piastri.

The Dutch F1 journalist, Erik van Haren, wrote on social networks: «For sure, Verstappen will not receive an extra point in his license». Because it wasn’t a dangerous incident (earning money when leaving the track).

“Verstappen is summing up so many points; the first ones are summed up at the end of June”.

F1 will return next month with the Miami Gran Premio, which will be celebrated on May 4th.