Max Verstappen on sweary radio exchange and Lewis Hamilton clash: My critics can f--- off

Max Verstappen told his critics “they can all f--- off” after colliding with Lewis Hamilton in a controversial Hungarian Grand Prix.

Verstappen finished fifth and had his lead in the title race cut after clashing with Hamilton. Race stewards investigated the incident but decided no action was necessary because “no driver was predominantly to blame”.

The Dutchman also had a terse exchange with his race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase, who had suggested that Verstappen had pushed too hard on a new set of tyres, saying: “That’s some gentle introduction.”

Verstappen replied: “No mate, don’t give me that s--- now. You guys gave me this s--- strategy, OK? I’m trying to rescue what’s left.”

Earlier, Verstappen said: “It’s quite impressive how we managed to get undercut. It completely f----- my race.”

It was put to Verstappen that he had been disrespectful but he replied: “They [critics] can all f--- off,” before he walked away from journalists in the media pen.

Hamilton accuses Verstappen

Hamilton accused Verstappen of “always being hostile” after their collision while competing for third place.

Verstappen locked up under braking, clipping Hamilton’s Mercedes and briefly becoming airborne before running off the road. Hamilton’s Mercedes team said Verstappen was “out of control”, while the Dutchman claimed his opponent moved under braking.

Both drivers were called before the stewards but escaped without punishment. However, the officiating panel added that Hamilton “could have done more to avoid the collision”.

Explaining the incident on lap 63 of 70, the seven-time world champion said: “We passed a backmarker and I got into the braking zone and then Max appeared, so I moved over to defend.

“I left enough room on the inside, but Max locked up and he was going on a different trajectory to me. I was going around the corner and we came shooting across.

“It felt like a racing incident and it is easy to make mistakes like that so I don’t feel there should be any hostility, but of course from his side there always will be.”

Verstappen: Red Bull no longer has pace advantage

Verstappen said Red Bull had to do a better job after his hopes of a third Hungarian Grand Prix win in a row ended.

The triple champion still has a healthy lead in the standings, 76 points clear of McLaren’s Lando Norris who finished second to Australian team-mate and first-time winner Oscar Piastri.

“Of course I’m not happy,” Verstappen told Sky Sports. “On a day when we’re already lacking pace compared to McLaren, you try and hope we do the right things with the strategy, which today was not the case.”

The Dutchman also said Red Bull could no longer rely on a pace advantage, unlike last year when they won all but one of 22 races.

“Naturally that frustrates me because I want things to be done better. I’m realistic. Today we couldn’t have beaten the McLarens, but [third place] was on the cards if we would have been on it a bit more,” he said

Verstappen also launched a defence of his exchanges over radio, saying: “I don’t think we need to apologise. I just think we need to do a better job.

“I don’t know why people think you cannot be vocal on a radio. This is a sport. If some people don’t like that then stay home.”