Verstappen defends radio outburst as Belgian Grand Prix nears

Dominika Jordan
Jul 25, 2024, 12:39 PM ET

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium — Max Verstappen, the reigning Formula 1 World Champion, has come out in defense of his recent team radio outburst at the Hungarian Grand Prix, asserting the importance of open and direct communication with his race engineer. After experiencing a strategy setback that saw him slip from third to fifth place, Verstappen's heated comments were aired live, showcasing the pressure and intensity of the competition.

During the Hungarian race, Verstappen expressed his frustration over the team strategy by remarking, "It's quite impressive how we let ourselves get undercut. It's completely f---ed my race." The tension escalated when his engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, questioned his tire management post-pit stop, to which Verstappen sharply replied: "No, mate, don't give me that s--- now. You guys gave me this s--- strategy, OK? I'm trying to rescue what's left. F---."

As the Belgian Grand Prix approaches, Verstappen stands firm in his communication approach, emphasizing the necessity to voice criticism and maintain a high-performance standard. "If people don't like my language, then don't listen in, turn the volume down," he stated. "I'm very driven to success...our approach is very open-minded, very critical, and it's been working for us very well."

Verstappen also highlighted the uniqueness of F1, where such exchanges are broadcast live to a global audience. "In other sports, people say things but they don't have a mic attached to their mouths," he noted. "For the broadcast, I don't care, I say what I want, but that's our sport naturally."

Addressing rumors of a potential lack of sleep affecting his performance after participating in a 24-hour online sim race, Verstappen was dismissive. "I raced until 3 a.m., but it's not something new. For me, it's something very important in my life," he said, reiterating that his personal routine and hobbies have not hindered his race preparation.

With three world championships to his name, Verstappen remains confident in his experience and judgment. "I've been doing this since 2015. I've won three world championships. I think I know pretty well what I can and what I cannot do," he affirmed.

As the F1 circus travels to Spa for the next race, all eyes will be on Verstappen and his Red Bull team, scrutinizing their strategy and communication under the spotlight of intense competition.

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Verstappen defends radio outburst as Belgian Grand Prix nears