Max Verstappen clashes following 'dangerous' d...read more

Max Verstappen clashes following ‘dangerous’ d…read more

In the lead-up to the Canadian Grand Prix, tensions flared between Max Verstappen and Sky F1 journalist Ted Kravitz during a heated media interaction. The exchange was sparked not by Verstappen’s controversial driving during the recent Spanish Grand Prix, but rather by questions regarding the decision made by FIA steward Steven Knowles that ultimately penalized the Red Bull driver. The issue in question revolved around an incident where Verstappen was instructed to relinquish a position to Mercedes’ George Russell. Instead of defusing the situation, the attempt at compliance led to further chaos on track.

The controversy began during the Spanish Grand Prix when Verstappen, having gone off track and gained an advantage, was expected to cede his position back to Russell. According to Verstappen, both he and his team believed they were taking the necessary steps to avoid any further disciplinary action by slowing down to allow Russell through. However, the attempt to yield backfired dramatically. In the process of allowing Russell by, Verstappen suddenly accelerated again, resulting in contact between the two cars. This led to a 10-second time penalty for Verstappen and has now placed him on the verge of a race ban due to accumulated penalty points.

When Kravitz brought up the subject during the pre-race press conference in Montreal, Verstappen’s irritation became palpable. Kravitz referenced the steward who had made the judgment, Steven Knowles, which Verstappen responded to with a barbed comment: “Well, you named him,” hinting at his disapproval of Knowles’ decision. Verstappen’s tone suggested that he felt the steward’s ruling was both harsh and perhaps influenced by an inaccurate interpretation of the situation.

The reigning world champion admitted that the situation during the Spanish Grand Prix wasn’t ideal and conceded that the timing of his decision to let Russell pass was “not right.” However, he stopped short of taking full responsibility for the contact, instead implying that the circumstances were misunderstood by race officials and perhaps by the media as well.

The fallout from the incident is significant. Not only has Verstappen received a substantial time penalty, but he also finds himself on the edge of a race ban due to the number of penalty points he’s accumulated. This looming threat adds further pressure as the championship battle intensifies. Meanwhile, the friction between Verstappen and members of the media like Kravitz underscores a growing tension that seems to be bubbling just beneath the surface — a reflection of the high-stakes environment surrounding Formula 1 and its top drivers.