F1 veteran and Sky Sports commentator Martin Brundle has ignited fresh controversy following the Mexican Grand Prix, declaring that Max Verstappen deserved a drive-through penalty for his actions during the race. The outspoken pundit, revered for his sharp race insights, argued that the reigning four-time world champion had shown “no intention” of respecting track limits through the first corners — a decision the FIA controversially chose not to penalize.
Brundle, joined by his Sky F1 colleagues on their post-race analysis show, dissected the early chaos in Mexico City, where both Verstappen and Charles Leclerc ventured off-track at Turn 1 yet retained their positions ahead of Lewis Hamilton. Despite the FIA ruling “no further action,” the move left many fans — and pundits — fuming over inconsistency. Matters escalated when Verstappen once again exceeded track limits while battling Hamilton later in the race. Ironically, Hamilton was the one penalized with a 10-second time addition for allegedly gaining an advantage, while Verstappen escaped unscathed.
“If I were in the stewards’ room,” Brundle stated firmly, “I would’ve hit Max with a penalty. It was skillful, yes, but he had zero intention of making those turns. He floored it through the grass and carried on — that’s not racing, that’s cutting the circuit.” Brundle went on to argue that Verstappen’s maneuver set a poor precedent for on-track fairness, calling for stricter enforcement to prevent future incidents from descending into “chaotic free-for-alls.”
Beyond Verstappen’s conduct, Brundle turned his sights on the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez itself, calling the track layout “hopeless.” He advocated for structural changes to prevent frequent corner-cutting, suggesting that deterrents — such as mandatory slow zones or speed-limited recovery sections — could replicate the consequences of Monaco’s infamous walls. “Right now,” he said, “drivers know they can bail out, blast through the runoff, and lose nothing. That’s not how Formula 1 should be raced.”
Brundle concluded by saying Verstappen’s outside-line gamble was both calculated and cynical — something the Dutchman would’ve vocally protested had the roles been reversed. His call for a drive-through penalty wasn’t merely about punishing one driver, he emphasized, but restoring fairness and discipline to a grid that’s increasingly testing the boundaries — both literal and moral — of Formula 1 racing.
