Max Verstappen told to apologise after Hungarian Grand Prix radio rant

Reigning Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen has been urged to apologise after his Hungarian Grand Prix radio rant.

Prior to Sunday’s race, Verstappen was already frustrated after his Red Bull car failed to match the pace set by McLaren duo Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

British driver Norris clinched pole position with Piastri second after clocking a time which was 0.022s slower. Meanwhile, Verstappen was a further couple of hundredths back.

During the race, Verstappen was again left fuming as he failed to overtake the McLarens and was the victim of an undercut after a rare strategy mistake from Red Bull.

Towards the end of the race, the Dutchman's afternoon got even worse after he collided with Lewis Hamilton, meaning he finished in fifth place behind Piastri, Norris, Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.

After his shunt with Hamilton, Verstappen blasted down his team radio and was met with a stern response from his race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase, who said: “I’m not even going to get into a radio fight with the other teams, Max.

“We'll let the stewards do their thing. It's childish, on the radio. Childish.”

Verstappen was also heard saying during the race: “No mate, don’t give me that bulls***. You guys gave me this f***ing strategy, OK? I’m trying to rescue what’s left. F*** sake.”

Speaking after the race, former F1 world champion Damon Hill said, as per Planet F1: “I thought Max sounded a bit frustrated. He was complaining all the time, he sounded a bit desperate if you ask me.

“But the way he spoke to Gianpiero I thought was very cheeky. I think he deserves an apology from Max.”

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Verstappen then offered a blunt response when asked about the criticism of his radio messages.

The 26-year-old said: “They can all f**k off. I mean, of course, I’m annoyed but I’ve been annoyed before – sometimes you press in the radio to voice your opinion and that’s what I did today hoping that, maybe, the second pit-stop will be a better call.

“But it wasn’t. But, for me, that is not distracting when I’m driving. Of course, I’m annoyed but you also then focus back on what you have to do and that’s, of course, controlling the car.”