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

Why Nurburgring 24 Hours agony may motivate Verstappen to return

Endurance
Why Nurburgring 24 Hours agony may motivate Verstappen to return

Final Catalan GP results as five riders penalised and Mir loses MotoGP podium

MotoGP
Catalan GP
Final Catalan GP results as five riders penalised and Mir loses MotoGP podium

Acosta slams Catalan GP calls: “It’s awful we acted as if nothing happened”

MotoGP
Catalan GP
Acosta slams Catalan GP calls: “It’s awful we acted as if nothing happened”

DS Penske solid despite frustrating finish in Monaco E-Prix

Formula E
Monaco ePrix II
DS Penske solid despite frustrating finish in Monaco E-Prix

Formula E Monaco E-Prix: Rowland reignites title challenge with first win of 2025-26

Formula E
Monaco ePrix II
Formula E Monaco E-Prix: Rowland reignites title challenge with first win of 2025-26

MotoGP Catalan GP: Di Giannantonio wins chaotic Barcelona race

MotoGP
Catalan GP
MotoGP Catalan GP: Di Giannantonio wins chaotic Barcelona race

Nurburgring 24 Hours: Mercedes win despite late failure for Verstappen Racing

Endurance
Nurburgring 24 Hours: Mercedes win despite late failure for Verstappen Racing

How F1's ADUO system works

Feature
Formula 1
How F1's ADUO system works

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