Max Verstappen has made it clear that he will not alter his direct approach when communicating with his team, even after receiving criticism for his aggressive radio outbursts during the Hungarian Grand Prix.
During the Hungarian Grand Prix, Verstappen had a heated exchange with his race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, expressing frustration with the team’s strategy. At one point, he exclaimed, “No mate, don’t give me that bulls*** now. You guys gave me this f***ing strategy, okay? I’m trying to rescue what’s left. F*** sake”. This incident has fueled a debate regarding how drivers should communicate with their teams.
Lewis Hamilton weighed in on the matter, suggesting that Verstappen should “act like a world champion” and remember that he is a teammate to many individuals. However, Verstappen remains unapologetic about his communication style. He stated, “People that don’t like my language don’t have to listen to it. Turn the volume down. I am very driven to success. I think I’ve proven that already.”
Verstappen emphasized that his candidness is strategic, aiming to influence race decisions in real-time. He believes that it is essential to voice frustrations immediately to potentially alter strategies, such as forcing an earlier second pitstop. He added, “We are very open-minded, we are very critical to each other as a team and that’s been working for us very well, so I don’t expect that to change.”
The Hungarian Grand Prix was particularly frustrating for Verstappen, who finished fifth after a collision with Hamilton and criticized the team’s strategy. He remarked, “From my side, I think it was quite clear that the strategy was wrong and of course I’m very driven like everyone else in the team. We want to try and be perfect.” Despite the setbacks, Verstappen believes it is normal to share frustrations during high-pressure situations and that it is part of the learning process.
Looking ahead, Verstappen faces an engine penalty at the upcoming Belgian Grand Prix, resulting in a 10-place grid drop. He acknowledged that this will make it challenging to secure a win, especially given recent performance inconsistencies. He explained, “If you look at our last few races where we haven’t particularly been the fastest, I wouldn’t say that with 10 places extra we have a chance of winning. But again a race can always be turned upside down within moments. So you have to be open-minded and try to make the best of it.”
Verstappen remains pragmatic about the upcoming race, noting the unknown variables such as new tarmac and weather conditions. “There are still a lot of unknowns, also with the weather. There’s quite a bit of rain expected on Friday and Saturday so [we] just need to follow the weather and just get a progression throughout the weekend and see how competitive we are.”
As the weekend approaches, Verstappen’s focus will undoubtedly be on maximizing his performance despite the grid penalty and other uncertainties.
Max Verstappen’s unfiltered communication style and relentless drive for success remain unchanged despite criticism. As he prepares for the Belgian Grand Prix, he faces significant challenges but remains determined to make the best of the situation.
