Martin Brundle agrees with one thing Christian Horner said about Max Verstappen after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

It’s safe to say that Martin Brundle and Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner haven’t always agreed on everything Max Verstappen has done during his time in Formula 1.

At last season’s Austrian Grand Prix, Brundle was concerned by Red Bull’s message to Verstappen after he collided with Lando Norris in the closing stages of the race.

Brundle was unhappy with Verstappen’s team radio in Abu Dhabi last year as well, after he was given a penalty for a collision with Oscar Piastri at the opening corner.

However, there is also plenty to admire about what Red Bull have achieved with Max Verstappen over the past few years.

The Dutchman fought and won against Lewis Hamilton in 2021, showed an added layer of maturity in 2022, dominated the sport like no one has ever seen before in 2023, and held off the challenge of Norris and co. in 2024.

This season presents another opportunity for Verstappen to prove he belongs among Formula 1’s greatest-ever drivers, with McLaren having a distinct pace advantage over Red Bull.

The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix didn’t quite play out like that, and even though Verstappen was given a time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage, Horner won’t be too unhappy with how the rest of the race played out.

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Martin Brundle and Christian Horner agree on Max Verstappen’s pace at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

Brundle was covering the race in Jeddah for Sky Sports F1 (20/4 8:16 pm) and was asked to react to Christian Horner saying that were it not for the penalty, Verstappen would have won the race.

He replied: “If they had stayed in the lead, but with a bone fide first two corners, then yes, I think he had a good chance of that.

“But I think Oscar had some pace in hand, should he have needed it.

“I call these things like in commentary, as I see them, and I haven’t changed my mind on that.

“Oscar got into the first corner, got into the apex and I have read the rules for 2025, and he had that corner.

“But, if you arrive and come off the brakes, and if look there’s not a whole lot of steering lock going on, Max didn’t really try to go around the outside. He had lost that corner and he should have tucked back in.

“I think the team should have handed the place straight back, I think it was obvious he was going to take a penalty for that, then I think they might have had a chance to win the race.”

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Damon Hill agrees with Martin Brundle over Max Verstappen penalty

Verstappen has perfected how to push the current Formula 1 regulations to their limits, although he went over the boundary according to the stewards on Sunday.

Brundle said both during the Grand Prix and in his post-race analysis that he thought the Dutchman’s penalty was fair.

Damon Hill agreed with Verstappen’s penalty as well, although Piastri only just kept his car on the track going into the second corner after turn one.

Had his inside wheel also crossed the white line, then Verstappen would have got away with his corner cutting, and more than likely, would be leading the drivers’ championship right now.