Max Verstappen gives update on conversation with GP after heated radio exchange in Hungary

Max Verstappen claimed his radio conversation with his engineer Gianpiero Lambiase during the Hungarian GP was normal. Speaking to onsite media ahead of the 2024 Belgian GP, the Dutchman felt that the heated exchange on the radio was typical of his rapport with his engineer.

In the Hungarian GP, a frustrating race led Verstappen to rant several times on his team radio to his engineer Lambiase. The heated exchange on the radio led to further criticism from the public and media about his rage. However, the Dutchman reckoned that the exchange was normal and it was the norm of approaching matters in Red Bull. He claimed that it was important to be critical over the radio due to a poor pitstop strategy.

Asked if he had a conversation with Lambiase after the Hungarian race, Verstappen replied:

“No not yet. But I mean he’s arriving today and we’ll discuss things as we always do. It's normal. Some things you always don’t hear about it. We always discuss stuff.”

Asked if anyone on the team objected to his heated approach and how he spoke to them on the radio, Max Verstappen said:

“That's our approach, you know. I think it's important that we could, it can be critical, because in this world that we are living now, I feel anyway that a lot of people can't take criticism anymore, like it used to be. And I don't want to end up like that.”

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Max Verstappen explains his comments on the radio after the Hungarian GP

Max Verstappen claimed the frustration during and after the race was a result of the poor strategy that stopped him from getting a better result. In the heat of the moment, he felt it was important to object to the wrong strategy and express his opinion.

The 26-year-old claimed he was unhappy with his strategy and decisions made in the pitlane. He added that certain issues were discussed in the debrief meeting after the race and that the team has moved on.

Asked if there were people in the team who wanted an apology from him for his comments after the race or the radio exchange, Verstappen said:

“From my side, I think it was quite clear the strategy was wrong, and of course I am driven like everyone else in the team, that we want to try and be perfect. Now I know that every single race to do that is very, very hard. I think we came very close last year. But when things are not going how they should have been, I think it's quite normal that you can share your frustration with it. And that's what I did.”

“And also, you know, of course, when you're full of adrenaline and things are happening in the race that you're not happy with, yeah, you voice your frustration. But then also after in the meeting, it's quite clear, you know, you talk about these things, that what we did was not optimal in terms of how we executed the race. And we learned from it and you just moved on,” he added.

The Hungarian race saw Max Verstappen fall two positions behind the projected third place he could have scored. While he lost one place fighting Lewis Hamilton, which led to an on-track clash between the duo, he lost the second due to his tires giving away.

Finishing fifth in the race after starting third was not a part of the plan for the weekend, with the McLarens securing a 1-2 finish in the race. The Dutchman’s lead has been reduced to 76 points, whereas Red Bull’s lead is down to 51 points.

With an engine change planned for the Belgian GP, he will be given a ten-place grid penalty for the race. But unlike previous years, he is not expecting to be in a position to win the race.