“It's easy to be not nice to drivers, but I can also be not nice to you": Max Verstappen on why he showed middle finger to a rude fan in stands

Max Verstappen savagely showed a middle finger to a rude fan during the 2024 F1 Imola GP qualifying session. The Dutchman clinched pole position on Saturday and later explained his actions towards a certain fan.

In the past, many fans have negatively reacted to Max Verstappen dominating the sport, especially after his controversial maiden title win in 2021. He has been booed by many fans after winning races on certain tracks.

At Imola, a fan showed Verstappen a middle finger when the Red Bull driver was exiting the pits. While the spectator was in the stands located right above the pit wall, Verstappen noticed the fan and was unhappy with his rudeness. Hence, the reigning world champion reciprocated by showing the follower a middle finger as well.

Check out the video below:

Verstappen then went on to take pole position for the Imola GP, beating both Ferrari and McLaren drivers. In the post-qualifying press conference, the three-time world champion explained that since the fan was being rude to him, he reciprocated the same energy.

Verstappen humorously added that when he saw the same spectator the next time he was in the pits, the fan was clapping. The Red Bull driver savagely stated how the F1 follower learned and corrected himself. He said:

"A lot of people were clapping. Then one guy, he was doing some different things to me, so I gave him the finger. And then the next time I came around, he was clapping. So, you know, they learn. You know, it's easy to be not nice to drivers, but I can also be not nice to you, you know! So, luckily he was a bit higher up. But it's good. After that, I guess he appreciated it".

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Oscar Piastri's humorous take on the rude fan applauding Max Verstappen later

Max Verstappen was not the only driver the fan was rude to. Second-placed Oscar Piastri also noticed the same fan being negative toward him during the Imola GP qualifying.

First, Verstappen explained why he showed a middle finger to a fan at the post-qualifying press conference. Piastri then chimed in and stated how the same spectator was showing thumbs down to him.

The McLaren driver hilariously asked Verstappen why the fan was clapping for him. He questioned whether the reason for the fan's clapping could be that the Red Bull driver was joining Ferrari. Piastri said:

"Yeah, I saw the same guy, I think. He wasn't giving me the finger, but he was giving me the thumbs down. But he was clapping for you. Wow. Did you sign with Ferrari or something? Is there something we don't know? I don't know. I mean, it's cool".

While Verstappen took pole position, Piastri secured second place. His teammate, Lando Norris ended up in third place. After the qualifying, however, the FIA stewards gave a three-place grid penalty to Piastri for impeding Haas driver Kevin Magnussen in Q1. The Australian will start Imola GP from P5, behind the Ferrari duo of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, respectively.