Max Verstappen launched a scathing response to a question at Formula 1‘s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix when asked if he now regretted his clash with George Russell in Spain.
The Dutchman lost out on the World Championship to Lando Norris in a nail-biting decider at the Yas Marina Circuit, ultimately falling short of the Brit by just two points.
Verstappen had clawed back a monumental deficit in the final nine races of the championship to set up the showdown with Norris and fellow McLaren driver Oscar Piastri.
The title dream seemed a distant and almost impossible feat back in May, when Verstappen was involved in a highly contentious issue collision with Russell in Barcelona.
When ordered to let the Mercedes driver through after overtaking off-circuit, Verstappen initially allowed the Brit through, before touching at Turn 5.
Verstappen was given a time penalty for the incident, sending him tumbling further down the order, costing him more points.
Asked if he regretted the move in hindsight, given it, in some respects, denied him the title, the Red Bull driver fired back at the question.
“Did you forget all the other stuff that happened in my season?” he retorted. “The only thing you mentioned is Barcelona, I knew that would come. Yep.”
A short but eerie silence descended on the press conference room, which turned the warm Arabic night hair decidedly chilly, a silence broken by Verstappen accusing the reporter in question of smirking.
“Are you giving me a stupid grin now?” he enquired. “I don’t know. Yeah, it’s part of racing at the end. You know, you live and learn.
“The championship is one over 24 rounds. I’ve also had a lot of Christmas presents, early Christmas presents given to me in the second half [of the season].
“So you can also question that.”
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