Verstappen speaks plainly after curse race

Max Verstappen did not want to hear any apologies for his tantrums, curses and accusations against his own team.

July 22, 2024

From: dpa

The three-time Formula 1 world champion had, among other things, heavily criticized the strategy issued by Red Bull at the Hungarian Grand Prix and had not held back his opinions in other respects either. Words often had to be beeped out.

His race engineer, on the other hand, had had enough of Verstappen's complaints towards the end of the race and indirectly described it as childish over the radio. "I don't think we have to apologize," said Verstappen after the race: "I think we just have to do a better job."

Not everything is running smoothly at Red Bull. © ANSA / MARTIN DIVISEK / POOL

And he wasn't finished yet. "I don't know why people think you can't be clear on the radio," Verstappen said on Sky Sports F1 from England: "This is sport. If you don't like it, you should stay at home."

Verstappen no longer extraterrestrial

This includes the three-time champion and still clearly leading World Championship leader himself. In the penultimate race before the summer break, Verstappen, who reportedly took part in a sim race until late at night, made some unusual mistakes. Shortly before the end, he also collided with Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes while attempting to overtake and fell back to fifth place.

Neither his parallel involvement in sim racing on race weekends nor his verbal arguments with his race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase are new. What is new or at least unusual for Verstappen is that he is anything but unrivalled with his Red Bull.

Lando Norris (left) and Oscar Piastri (right) congratulate each other. © APA/afp / ATTILA KISBENEDEK

The McLaren, with which Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris achieved a double victory at the Hungaroring, is currently the faster car. Mercedes with third-placed Hamilton in Hungary is close behind and Ferrari is also pushing.

Next stop Spa-Francorchamps, Verstappen’s almost home race
And so Verstappen suddenly appears on the track as he did before his dominant days: aggressive and irritable and no longer as controlled and unassailable. Next weekend, at the almost home race in Spa-Francorchamps - Verstappen's mother is Belgian - it will be clear whether this is just a snapshot or will become a permanent condition in the World Championship battle for the rest of the season.