Max Verstappen apologised to Oscar Piastri after hitting his McLaren at Flip 1 of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, however questioned the present penalty process in Method 1.
The 2024 world champion tried to go up the within of Piastri at first of the season finale however as a substitute crashed into the Australian, who dropped to the again consequently.
It might have had a big impact on the constructors’ championship however, finally, McLaren nonetheless ended its 26-year watch for a groups’ title as Lando Norris gained and Piastri recovered to tenth.
Verstappen mentioned over crew radio that the incident was “unfortunate” however revealed he had mentioned sorry to Piastri after the race.
“My launch was good after which I attempted to seize the within and I shortly realised, as soon as I dedicated to it, that the hole was closing and I wished to try to get out of it, as a result of I did not need to naturally, in fact, crash with Oscar,” he mentioned.
“However sadly, we nonetheless clipped one another, however I already apologised to Oscar, it’s not what you need to occur, and particularly not with him. He is an incredible man but it surely occurred, and it’s a bit unlucky.
“The factor was that, while you’re in that place, you are specializing in the automotive forward…you commit. While you begin first or second, you by no means actually look behind.
“So I went for it, after which I realised, ‘shit, he would not see me there’. So I used to be like attempting to get out of it, however then we nonetheless clipped.”
Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38 and Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing RB20 collide on the nook inflicting one another to spin
Photograph by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Pictures
Verstappen additionally labelled the stewards “idiots” by way of crew radio for handing him a 10-second penalty for inflicting the collision.
He continued to query the choice when requested about it after the race, the place he ultimately completed sixth.
“After all, that’s on me. However I used to be anticipating possibly 20 seconds, 30 seconds, I do not know, cease and go!,” he mentioned sarcastically. “So possibly one thing to speak about for subsequent time.
“I do not perceive something anymore, but it surely’s tremendous, no matter. I am not going to get offended about stuff like that.
“It isn’t price my time and yeah, simply have a break. Like I mentioned, crucial factor is that I apologise to Oscar and that is it.”
Piastri was at the very least happy to have the ability to toast constructors’ success with McLaren regardless of a race to overlook for the Australian.
When requested if Verstappen’s overtaking try was too optimistic, Piastri advised Sky Sports activities: “Most likely sure, however he got here and apologised right away,”
“The stewards deemed there was a penalty, so we go once more subsequent yr, it was a tricky race from then on however once more, we achieved our principal goal at the moment and that’s all that issues.
“It was a reasonably depressing race for myself however in fact, the largest factor at the moment is we clinched the championship.
“It is a large credit score to everybody and McLaren for what they’ve achieved this yr and I could not be prouder of all of them.”
Pictures from Abu Dhabi GP Race
On this article
Mark Mann-Bryans
Method 1
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