Max Verstappen unleashed one other tirade on the stewards throughout Sunday’s season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix by branding them “silly idiots” after being hit with a 10-second penalty for an opening-corner collision with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.
“Can we ask for 20 seconds? Silly idiots,” Verstappen mentioned sarcastically over the Pink Bull radio after serving his punishment, having been adjudged to have induced the accident when attempting to overhaul the Australian.
, who , later apologised to Piastri, admitting he had been at fault. However he mentioned he did “not perceive” the punishment. “I don’t perceive something anymore, however it’s nice,” Verstappen mentioned. “No matter. I’m not going to get indignant about stuff like that.
“I’m simply pleased that the season is over. For me an important factor that I needed to do is simply apologise to Oscar as a result of I had nothing to achieve, nothing to lose. I went for it. It didn’t work out. He’s a good friend of mine so I don’t need to have any bizarre emotions or no matter going into the break.”
Piastri, who was attempting to assist McLaren win the constructors’ title, had been livid at being despatched spinning. He additionally despatched his race engineer a message closely laden with sarcasm. “Yep, transfer of a world champion that one,” the Australian mentioned. Instructed later that Verstappen had been handed a 10-second penalty, he snapped again: “Good.”
Verstappen has had a number of run-ins with the stewards this 12 months. He was given a in Singapore, for which he’ll serve his time in Rwanda this week the place the FIA prize-giving gala takes place, and obtained two 10-second penalties for separate incidents on the Mexican Grand Prix after which he accused the stewards of “bias” and mentioned he had the . He was additionally sad with the stewards after being final weekend.
The Dutchman’s newest infringement takes him to eight penalty factors on his licence heading into the 2025 season, simply 4 away from a one-race ban which is not going to begin to drop off till June.
“Perhaps I make sure that I get to 12 when the infant is born, then I can go on paternity depart,” joked the Dutch driver, who introduced over the weekend that his
Whereas Verstappen can afford to joke, his team-mate Sergio Perez faces a nerve-racking few days.
One other troublesome race ended with the Mexican retiring on the second lap. New Zealander Liam Lawson is extensively anticipated to step up from sister staff RB to switch him, with an announcement anticipated later within the week, presumably after Pink Bull’s homecoming social gathering at their manufacturing facility on Wednesday. Pink Bull Junior driver Isack Hadjar is anticipated to switch Lawson at RB to drive alongside Yuki Tsunoda.
