Max Verstappen slammed the Formula 1 race stewards over his 10-second penalty during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, calling them “stupid idiots.”
Verstappen, starting from third on the grid at the Yas Marina Circuit, challenged McLaren’s Oscar Piastri into Turn 1 at lights out.
The Dutchman punted Piastri into a spin and received a 10-second time penalty for his efforts.
Upon taking the penalty, Verstappen exclaimed over the team radio: “Can we ask for 20 seconds? Stupid idiots.”
Asked to clarify his stance post-race, Verstappen told select media including Motorsport Week “Honestly I don’t want to talk about it. I’m just happy that the season is over.
“For me, the most important thing that I had to do is just apologise to Oscar because you know I have nothing to gain, nothing to lose.
“I went for it. It didn’t work out, especially also for him that we both spun.
“It’s not nice. He’s a friend of mine so I don’t want to have any like weird feelings or whatever going into the break.”
Verstappen: Maybe I should have got a ‘20-second’ penalty
With room at the Turn 1 apex tight, Verstappen was probed on whether Piastri left him enough space to which he said “The thing was that I think when you’re in that position you’re focusing on the car ahead you know and you commit.
“I mean that’s how I feel it as well when you start first or second, you never really look behind.
“So I went for it and then I realised he doesn’t see me there so I was like trying to get out of it but then we still clipped and of course, that is on me.”
Regarding his 10-second penalty, Verstappen sarcastically said “I was expecting maybe 20 seconds, 30 seconds, I don’t know, stop and go.
“There’s maybe something to talk about for next time. I already have a community service.”
Max Verstappen apologetic over Oscar Piastri shunt
Verstappen tagging Piastri could have proved costly in McLaren’s title fight.
Luckily, the papaya team overcame that hurdle to take the Constructors’ crown, but Verstappen still felt guilty over the incident.
The Dutchman’s respect for his Australian counterpart meant he apologised straightaway post-race.
“I tried to grab the inside and I quickly realised once I committed to it that the gap was closing and I wanted to try and get out of it,” he explained.
“Because I didn’t want to actually crash with Oscar, but unfortunately we still clipped each other.
“I already apologised to Oscar. It’s not what you want to happen and especially not with him.
“He’s a great guy. But, it happened and it’s just a bit unfortunate.”
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