Oliver Solberg, known for his flamboyant driving style, found himself in hot water after the Monte Carlo Rally when he received a significant time penalty for drifting through Monaco’s streets following his podium finish. The manoeuvre, which thrilled onlookers, did not sit well with race stewards, who swiftly handed down a five-minute penalty.

Solberg’s bold move occurred at the Fairmont hairpin, the slowest corner of all Formula 1 circuits. After crossing the finish line and passing through the ceremonial podium, the 22-year-old Toyota driver executed a dramatic slide in front of an enthusiastic crowd. While spectators cheered the spectacle, officials deemed the stunt dangerous and a violation of rally regulations, which explicitly prohibit exhibition driving due to safety concerns.

“The stewards reviewed video evidence of the incident and concluded that the drift created a potentially hazardous situation, given the proximity of spectators at the corner,” read the official FIA statement. Solberg, who admitted to the manoeuvre and apologised, maintained that he did not believe it posed a significant danger.

The penalty, applied under Article 12.18 of the Rally’s Supplementary Regulations, dropped Solberg from his initial standing to 15th place overall and 8th in the Rally2 category. Despite the harsh penalty, the decision has no bearing on Solberg’s WRC2 season, as the Monte Carlo Rally was not included in his championship scoring schedule.

This is not the first time Solberg has faced consequences for his showmanship. In 2023, he was penalised one minute for performing donuts at the end of the Rally of Portugal. Despite the repeated sanctions, the young driver remains a polarising figure, celebrated for his thrilling performances yet criticised for bending the rules.