Skip to main content

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Recommended for you

The changes that thrust BMW into title contention in WEC

WEC
The changes that thrust BMW into title contention in WEC

The best drives of F1 2026 so far, according to our writers

Formula 1
Dutch GP
The best drives of F1 2026 so far, according to our writers

A fine performance from DS Penske in race one at the London E-Prix

Formula E
London ePrix I
A fine performance from DS Penske in race one at the London E-Prix

Formula E London E-Prix: Wehrlein dominates race one to take championship lead

Formula E
London ePrix I
Formula E London E-Prix: Wehrlein dominates race one to take championship lead

DTM Nurburgring: Cairoli takes third win of season as only 12 cars finish

DTM
Nurburgring
DTM Nurburgring: Cairoli takes third win of season as only 12 cars finish

Just four current MotoGP riders are yet to win a race

MotoGP
British GP
Just four current MotoGP riders are yet to win a race

Is GT3 entering ‘the danger zone’?

Feature
GT3
Is GT3 entering ‘the danger zone’?

Verstappen highlights "big priority" for Red Bull in second half of F1 2026

Formula 1
Dutch GP
Verstappen highlights "big priority" for Red Bull in second half of F1 2026

Max Verstappen slams Ferrari's Vettel/Raikkonen after Spa collision

Max Verstappen has hit out at Ferrari Formula 1 drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel after an incident-packed Belgian Grand Prix

Red Bull driver Verstappen collided with the Ferraris at the first corner as all three cars tried to get around the La Source hairpin side-by-side, and he had more run-ins with Raikkonen as they fought back through the field later in the race.

Raikkonen was heavily critical of Verstappen on the radio, saying "his only interest is pushing me off the circuit completely" and later calling his driving "fucking ridiculous".

Raikkonen was particularly unhappy with Verstappen moving late to defend his position on the Kemmel Straight, which he claimed forced him to brake at full speed to avoid an accident.

Raikkonen: Verstappen will have a massive accident

When asked by TV crews if he needs to tone down his driving, Verstappen said: "To be honest, it's a big lie.

"I'm just defending my position and if somebody doesn't like it it's his own problem.

"After Turn 1 when they do something like that, I'm not going to give up my position that easily afterwards."

Raikkonen added: "I'm all up for fair battles and close racing but when I have to back off on the straight when I'm making my move, that's not correct.

"I had to brake from full speed. I haven't had that with any other driver."

The teenager put most of the blame for the "ridiculous" first-corner collision on Vettel, who was on the outside going into the corner, with Raikkonen in the middle.

"My start wasn't great but I dived on the inside, I didn't lock a wheel, so I was easily making the corner," said Verstappen.

"But they just kept squeezing me and at one point I was on the inside, Kimi was squeezing, but then Sebastian just turned in on both of us.

"He knows he is on the outside and he just turns into the corner where there are two other cars.

"That took my front wing, I had a lot of damage and my floor got destroyed, so from there the race was gone."

Verstappen could only recover to 11th, missing out on points, as he struggled for pace with his damaged car.

Previous article Nico Rosberg wins Belgian GP as Lewis Hamilton charges to third
Next article McLaren's Belgian GP performance 'great news' - Fernando Alonso

Top Comments

Latest news