The first triple-header of the 2025 F1 season has ended with fireworks—not just on the podium, but behind the scenes, where frustration is boiling over. Oscar Piastri may have claimed his third victory of the year in Saudi Arabia, but the real story is the storm brewing off the track. Max Verstappen, Red Bull’s no-nonsense title fighter, has been silenced by the FIA after a controversial penalty stripped him of a win many believe he rightfully earned. Welcome to modern Formula 1, where speaking your mind could cost you your championship.

Piastri’s Rise… and Verstappen’s Rage

Let’s start with the facts. Piastri, the cool-headed Australian sensation, now leads the championship by 10 points. He drove superbly in Jeddah, keeping pace with Verstappen early on before pulling away after the Dutchman served a five-second penalty. That penalty? For cutting Turn One at the start and retaining the lead—a move Verstappen insists was forced by Piastri’s aggressive launch.

The stewards didn’t see it that way.

While Max made the move around the outside, released the brakes, and sliced through the chicane, the FIA ruled he gained an unfair advantage. Cue the penalty. Cue the outrage.

“That Is Lovely” – A Chilling Response

Red Bull radioed in the penalty mid-race. Verstappen’s dry, almost sarcastic reply—“Wow, that is lovely”—said it all. But what’s even more revealing is what wasn’t said. The usually vocal and defiant Verstappen held back. Why? Because the FIA has made it clear: speak out against them, and there will be consequences.

Verstappen later explained that criticism is no longer tolerated in this new F1 climate. Drivers can now face race bans and point deductions simply for being too vocal. The policy, introduced quietly over the winter at the direction of FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem (MBS), has created a chilling effect on the grid. Verstappen, once fearless with a mic in front of him, now chooses silence over sanction.

“You can’t share your opinion because it’s not appreciated… Honestly, it’s better if I don’t say too much,” Max admitted post-race.

Censorship in the Paddock?

What’s happening here is bigger than one race or one penalty. The FIA, under Ben Sulayem, appears determined to clamp down on any dissent. Even Christian Horner, Red Bull’s team principal, was seen parading photographic evidence after the race, trying to show that Verstappen was ahead going into Turn One. But even that quiet protest was met with dismissal.

One team boss (not from McLaren) reportedly responded: “Let it go. He was never making that corner.”

And maybe he wasn’t. But when the penalty becomes the deciding factor in a championship fight—especially one as close as this—every decision, every millisecond, every ruling matters. And so does every word that gets suppressed.

The Calm Before the Red Bull?

Make no mistake: Red Bull are still dangerous. The pace in Jeddah proved they’ve found their footing after a sluggish Bahrain. Verstappen was faster than Piastri on raw pace and could’ve secured the win without the penalty. McLaren’s one-two punch of Piastri and Lando Norris has been effective, but Norris’s crash in qualifying and Oscar’s reliance on Verstappen’s misfortune are warning signs.

If Max starts stringing together wins—and stays quiet enough not to trigger the FIA’s wrath—the McLaren garage might have to consider team orders sooner than they think. The double championship McLaren craves could slip away if they let their boys fight and Max run free.

F1: Fast Cars, Gag Orders?

The most jarring part of this saga isn’t even on the track. It’s the culture shift within F1. A sport once defined by its characters, rivalries, and raw emotion is now shackled by PR-safe soundbites and vague threats from its governing body.

Verstappen, a man never known to sugarcoat his opinions, now chooses restraint. Not out of respect, but out of fear. The same man who once publicly clashed with the stewards, FIA policies, and even rival drivers now bites his tongue because one wrong sentence could end his season.

“There’s a lot of lines… better not to talk about it. You can put yourself in trouble,” Verstappen said in the post-race presser.

This is Formula 1 in 2025: lightning-fast on track, muzzled in the media pen.

Where Do We Go From Here?

As we head to Miami, the tension in the paddock is palpable. McLaren leads, but Red Bull is lurking. Verstappen is faster, angrier, and possibly more dangerous than ever—if he can stay out of FIA’s disciplinary crosshairs.

Fans, pundits, and even other drivers are starting to murmur the same thing: has the FIA gone too far? Are we watching the sport we love be sanitized in real time?

One thing’s for sure—Oscar Piastri may have crossed the line first in Jeddah, but Max Verstappen is still the biggest threat on and off the track.