Max Verstappen has said that the reaction from some fans and certain people to the collapse of Red Bull’s team order last week was unacceptable.
The team issued a statement today admitting that Verstappen made “mistakes” when he asked Verstappen to allow Sergio Perez to finish sixth on the final lap of the Brazilian Grand Prix. He condemned the abuse of his team members on social media following the tournament.
Verstappen said he had told the team at the previous race in Mexico that they were not prepared to step aside for Perez in those conditions.
“It didn’t matter if it was first or second or sixth or seventh or tenth,” Verstappen said at today’s FIA press conference in Abu Dhabi. “It was about what happened earlier in the season.
“I already explained that I understood and agreed with Mexico and the team. We went to Brazil and I thought we were going to compete, try to get the best possible result.
Verstappen should have expected Red Bull not to let Perez pass him. “We had a bit of a miscommunication on Saturday and Sunday, I wasn’t told about the switch or anything. It was only said on the radio in that last lap and I think they should have known my tongue from what I said a week ago.
“After that race we had a good discussion and put everything on the table and everything was resolved. So in hindsight we should have had that discussion earlier because I’ve never been a bad teammate to anyone, I’ve always been very helpful and the team knows it.
Advertisement | Become a RaceFans fan and
“I’ve always put the team first because at the end of the day it’s a team effort. So I think what we’ve learned from that is that we need to be a little more open and talk to each other better.
Verstappen criticized the media coverage of the race and the reactions to the incident on social media.
“After that race, it really looked bad in the media,” he said. But they didn’t have clear pictures either. It’s ridiculous to immediately humiliate me like that. Because they don’t know how I work in the team and what the team appreciates about me. So everything I’ve read is so disgusting.
“Furthermore, they started attacking my family, threatening my sister, my mother, my boyfriend, my father and I was so far away that she didn’t even know what was happening. And that definitely needs to stop. If you have a problem with me, that’s fine, but don’t stalk my family because that’s not acceptable.
But moving on, I obviously have a good relationship with Czecho. But of course I don’t understand when people start attacking like that when they have the full picture. I hope one day they really understand what’s going on because it’s unacceptable behavior and a lot of people in this paddock, frankly, not just fans, but a lot of people. What you keep writing about me is ridiculous.
Perez enters the final race of the season tied for second place in the championship with Charles Leclerc. Verstappen says he is ready to help his team secure a spot this time if needed.
I’m looking forward to seeing the fight. We’ve never finished first and second as a team, so if we can achieve that, that would be amazing. Certainly if there is an opportunity to help, as a team, we will do that.
Don’t miss anything new from RaceFans
Follow RaceFans on social media:
Advertisement | Become a RaceFans fan and
2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Browse all 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix articles
