In a shocking turn of events during the F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Martin Brundle has shed light on a critical error made by Red Bull that ultimately cost Max Verstappen the chance to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

Starting from pole, Verstappen’s dream quickly turned into a nightmare when he was slapped with a five-second time penalty for allegedly holding his ground against McLaren's Oscar Piastri, who ended up claiming his first-ever Grand Prix win.

Brundle, a seasoned commentator for Sky Sports, noted that Red Bull had a strong chance to secure a victory, but pointed to a misstep that altered the race's trajectory. He supported team principal Christian Horner's claim that Verstappen could have cruised to victory without the penalty but highlighted crucial moments where Red Bull faltered.

"If they had handled the first two corners correctly, yes, they would have been in a great position, but Piastri definitely had some speed left in the tank if needed," Brundle detailed, reflecting on the tense initial moments of the race.

He continued, explaining that Verstappen had an opportunity to relinquish the corner back to Piastri: "Oscar made a strong move into the first apex, and as I see it, that corner was his. Max didn’t make a strong enough attempt to go around the outside and lost the position; he should have tucked back in. Red Bull should have advised him to give the place back, anticipating the penalty—it was a rookie mistake."

Adding to the conversation, Jamie Chadwick pointed out another oversight: Verstappen’s lackluster start from pole position. "If I were Max, I would be most frustrated by my start. Piastri got a significant advantage right off the line due to quicker reaction time, which compromised Verstappen's position—it was a crucial moment that set the stage for the race's downfall."

Despite coming in second, Verstappen's performance offers a glimmer of hope as he prepares for the next challenge: the Miami Grand Prix. With Piastri now riding high on a two-race winning streak, Verstappen is eager to reclaim his dominance and keep the championship battle alive.

The stakes are high, and as Formula 1 heads to Miami in a fortnight, all eyes will be on whether the defending champion can bounce back and put an end to the McLaren momentum.