Max Verstappen Brushes Off Criticism of Radio Messages from Hungarian GP in Defiant Response

Max Verstappen’s radio messages during the Hungarian Grand Prix sparked significant controversy, but the Red Bull driver has refused to apologize for his remarks. After a challenging race at the Hungaroring, Verstappen’s frustration was evident as he dropped from third on the grid to a fifth-place finish following a collision with Lewis Hamilton.

Throughout the race, Verstappen expressed his dissatisfaction with the RB20 car and the strategic decisions made by the Red Bull pit wall using colorful language. When asked by Sky Sports F1 if he would apologize for his radio conduct, Verstappen replied, “I don’t think we need to apologize. I just think we need to do a better job.”

Verstappen’s comments came under scrutiny as he was also criticized for his collision with Hamilton, which he defended by suggesting Hamilton was moving under braking. Despite some neutral observers attributing blame to Verstappen, he remained firm in his critique, comparing the incident to a previous one with Lando Norris where he was penalized.

The Dutch driver, who had dominated the season’s early races, is now facing a competitive challenge as he has gone three races without a win for the first time since late 2021. Verstappen acknowledged that while he lacked the pace to compete with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, he felt poor strategy choices cost him a potential podium finish.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner downplayed the criticism, noting that Verstappen’s frustration was understandable and that the team would handle it internally. Horner clarified that Verstappen’s race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, was not referring to Verstappen when he used the word “childish” in a response.

Sky Sports F1 pundit Naomi Schiff criticized Verstappen’s remark about those who dislike his radio messages “staying home,” describing it as disrespectful. She emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive relationship with the team and warned against alienating those who support him.

While acknowledging the intense nature of the sport, Schiff suggested Verstappen could be more mindful of his language, as the radio communications are broadcasted to fans worldwide, including younger audiences.