Formula 1 Hot News

F1: Verstappen blames bias British media for social media attacks

Posted by AR1 staff

Double Formula One world champion Max Verstappen said he and his family had suffered online threats and abuse after he ignored team orders in Brazil last weekend, and blamed the media for making him look bad.

The Red Bull driver assured reporters on Thursday he was a team player, and said he had a great relationship with Mexican teammate Sergio Perez, but the critics did not know the full story.

Despite saying he hoped they would one day know the details, he still refused to provide them ahead of the season-ending race in Abu Dhabi.

“It wasn’t about the position… it was about something that happened earlier in the season,” Verstappen said on Thursday, amid speculation – which he would not confirm – that he was referring to the Monaco Grand Prix won by Perez.

“I already explained that in Mexico and the team understood and agreed.

“We went to Brazil and I just thought we were just going to race and try to get the best possible result. We had a bit of a miscommunication on Saturday and Sunday, nothing had been said to me about a potential swap.”

Verstappen said the team should have known what his response would be when the matter was raised on the last lap, but everything had now been talked through and resolved.