Breaking news
Formula 1 Mexican GP
Verstappen to limit radio comms to avoid sounding "arrogant"
Max Verstappen says he will try to limit his radio communications during F1 races after admitting his messages sound "arrogant" out of context.
Pablo Elizalde
Edited: Oct 27, 2016, 7:52 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The Dutchman was in the spotlight once again during the United States Grand Prix following a radio exchange with his engineer, who asked him to take care of his tyres so they would last the whole stint.
Verstappen replied "I'm not here to finish fourth" as he fought for position with Mercedes' Nico Rosberg.
The Red Bull driver admitted his message sounded arrogant, but insisted he is aware that the team is just trying to help him.
"The thing is that all the time that I press my radio button it's broadcast, so sometimes it sounds a bit arrogant," said Verstappen.
"Especially that 'I'm not here to finish fourth', but that's what comes up in my mind. I'm not there to finish fourth at the end of the day, I'm there to win, as a racer.
"But on the radio it sounds arrogant and like I'm not listening to the team, but that's not my message to the team.
"They are always trying to help you, so I wouldn't say it's unnecessary. We'll try to do an even better job."
Verstappen jokingly said that he plans to get rid of the radio button.
"I think I'm gonna take my radio button off, so no radio for me anymore," he said. "As a driver I always want to go forward. I want to win, that's always the aim. I was trying to get past, that's how I did it with Kimi [Raikkonen] as well.
"That was like, I arrived and I got past, but with Nico it didn't really work out, but at the end of the day I did damage my left front a bit, but it was not that bad.
"I think it's better to just not say anything so there are no discussions. No long sentences for me anymore."
The Dutchman was also the protagonist of another incident during the Austin race when he pitted without warning, catching his mechanics unready.
Verstappen said the mistake occurred because he was on "auto-pilot", and insisted it will not happen again.
"You always have a bit of coded messages, of course. We spoke about some things, but for me after driving for an hour you get into your comfort zone and are on auto-pilot.
"I saw Daniel box the lap before so I thought I'll box the next lap for my last stint. And that's where it went wrong. So maybe I was thinking to myself a bit too much.
"I think it won't happen again."
Don’t miss our Mexican GP video preview…
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Rosberg clears air with Ecclestone over title remarks
Next article Button "counting off" days until final F1 race
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Pablo Elizalde
Alpine becomes Pramac's main partner in MotoGP
MotoGP
MotoGP Jan 27, 2025
Alpine becomes Pramac's main partner in MotoGP
Liberty Media's $4bn MotoGP deal facing EU probe
MotoGP
MotoGP Dec 14, 2024
Liberty Media's $4bn MotoGP deal facing EU probe
Ocon wants answers to understand pace slump against Alpine team-mate
Formula 1
Formula 1 Nov 27, 2024
Ocon wants answers to understand pace slump against Alpine team-mate
More from
Max Verstappen
F1 driver contracts: How long is each driver tied down for?
Formula 1
Formula 1 1 d
F1 driver contracts: How long is each driver tied down for?
Max Verstappen on Ferrari clashes: "I would never sign two number-one drivers"
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
2 d
Max Verstappen on Ferrari clashes: "I would never sign two number-one drivers"
More from
Red Bull Racing
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Formula 1
Formula 1 1 d
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Latest news
The ten closest finishes from the 2026 NASCAR season
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup 8 h
The ten closest finishes from the 2026 NASCAR season
‘Lewis suspected a conspiracy’ – Nico Rosberg explains how Lewis Hamilton F1 rivalry went awry at Mercedes
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 9 h
‘Lewis suspected a conspiracy’ – Nico Rosberg explains how Lewis Hamilton F1 rivalry went awry at Mercedes
BMW "proud of what we achieved" after securing runner-up in 2026 WEC
WEC
WEC WEC
Monza
10 h
BMW "proud of what we achieved" after securing runner-up in 2026 WEC
The numbers that reveal how sprint races have turned the MotoGP title fight upside down
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
12 h
The numbers that reveal how sprint races have turned the MotoGP title fight upside down
Feature
Discover prime content
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Formula 1
By Kevin Turner
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe