Max Verstappen has told his F1 critics that if they don’t like his radio communications, they can simply “turn down the volume.”
Verstappen’s transmissions faced criticism after the Hungarian Grand Prix, where he lashed out at race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase following a challenging day and poor strategy that left him in fifth place on what he described as a “rescue” job.
He finished fifth after a collision with Lewis Hamilton and has a history of stern radio communications with Lambiase when things don’t go according to plan.
However, Verstappen, dismissing claims of a Red Bull sim racing ban imposed on him after Hungary, had a direct suggestion for his critics.
“If people don’t like my language, then don’t listen in and turn the volume down,” Verstappen told media, including RacingNews365.
“I am very driven to succeed and I have proven that already, and I always want to optimize things.
“People can argue that I might not be so vocal on the radio, but that is their opinion.
“My opinion is that it needs to be said at the time because we are very open-minded and critical of each other as a team.
“That approach has worked very well for us, so I don’t expect it to change. It is important to be critical because, in today’s world, I feel that many people can’t take criticism like they used to.
“I don’t want to end up like that.”
