The Las Vegas Grand Prix witnessed an early clash between Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc, sparking a debate on the effectiveness of the FIA's race officiating. Verstappen's over-aggressive move on Leclerc in the opening lap resulted in a five-second time penalty. While Verstappen acknowledged the penalty as the "right call," both Leclerc and other drivers expressed the need for better punishment measures.

Leclerc emphasized the significance of Verstappen being penalized, stating, "He has been penalized, he paid the penalty, and that was the right penalty to give." However, Leclerc proposed that in such situations, the FIA should consider allowing the driver to give back the position instead of imposing a time penalty. The Ferrari driver argued that the strategic advantage gained by maintaining a lead with clean air raised concerns about the validity of the current penalty system.

Leclerc's criticism adds to the growing discontent surrounding the use of five-second time penalties this season. In a previous incident during Austin's Sprint Race, George Russell also received a five-second time penalty for an illegal overtake due to exceeding track limits. This incident led to accusations that faster cars were deliberately taking advantage of the penalty system.

Alex Albon, who has experienced similar incidents, shared his view on the matter, stating, "The penalty isn't big enough. It punishes a slower car. I'm sure George knew he was off track and thought, 'I can afford this [and go] five seconds quicker [rather] than being stuck behind him'."

Albon referred to a previous incident when he was taken out by Sergio Perez in Singapore, resulting in a five-second penalty that had no impact on Perez's eventual position. Albon remarked, "It's not really teaching the drivers anything because the penalties aren't strict enough."

The increasing dissatisfaction among drivers with the current penalty system points to a need for stricter regulations. With drivers advocating for penalties that effectively deter aggressive driving and illegal overtakes, the 2023 season may witness a significant pushback against the FIA's stewarding decisions.

As the Verstappen controversy continues to simmer, the question remains: Should Verstappen have been forced to give back his position instead of receiving a time penalty? The call for a more balanced approach to penalizing drivers underscores the importance of finding a method that ensures fairness and discourages reckless behavior on the track. The discussions surrounding race officiating are sure to dominate headlines as the season progresses.