Motor racing-Verstappen rages after podium demotion

AUSTIN, Texas, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Max Verstappen accused Formula One stewards of killing the sport, and suggested fans could stay away in protest, after he was stripped of a podium place at the U.S. Grand Prix on Sunday.

With Red Bull boss Christian Horner and past champions joining in the outcry, the 20-year-old Dutch driver vented his feelings.

"The engine penalty is what it is," said Verstappen, who started 16th after being demoted for power unit changes. "We had a great race but with those stupid decisions you kill the sport.

"I hope the fans do not like this decision and next year they do not come."

Verstappen had thrilled the crowd with a last lap overtaking move on Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen to take third place.

He was then demoted to fourth, while waiting with race winner Lewis Hamilton and second-placed Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel in the pre-podium room, for exceeding the track limits to gain an advantage.

As he headed back down the stairs, team principal Horner let rip.

"It is an appalling decision. They have robbed all of the fans here. It was a great grand prix and they have screwed it up," he said.

Verstappen's father Jos was also scathing of the decision on social media, with a series of comments on Twitter suggesting Ferrari favouritism.

"Shame on you FIA," he said referring to the sport's governing body. "Obviously F1 don't know what racing is."

Mario Andretti, the 1978 world champion, also chimed in: "After watching videos could equally argue Kimi forced him there. Best overtake of #USGP. Feel sorry for @Max33Verstappen you got robbed," he said.

Mercedes non-executive chairman Niki Lauda, himself a triple world champion, also agreed even as his team celebrated their fourth successive constructors' championship.

"This decision is the worst I've ever seen," he told reporters.

"He (Verstappen) did nothing wrong. These are racing drivers, we're not on a normal road and it's ridiculous to destroy the sport with this kind of decision," added the Austrian.

"At the next strategy meeting we'll bring it up the agenda and start all over again because we cannot do that, going too far and interfering. It was a normal overtaking." (Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Ken Ferris)