Buxton scathing about Verstappen: 'Selfish, short-sighted behaviour'

F1 News

14 November 2022 at 16:12
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  • GPblog.com

Formula 1 analyst Will Buxton has spoken out on Twitter critical of Max Verstappen's action at the end of the Brazilian Grand Prix. The Dutchman refused to let his teammate Sergio Perez pass him, which earned him plenty of comments from the rest of the Formula 1 world.

Verstappen's action immediately led to much criticism and just as much defence of the Dutchman. Many people have referred to past situations where drivers did something similar but Buxton has his own idea about it.

"Comparisons between Verstappen refusing to listen to team orders and Vettel with Multi21 are unjustified in my opinion," Buxton said. "Seb went for the win in a season where he hoped to secure his fourth world title. Max was driving in sixth place, with the title already in his pocket."

Buxton is referring to the infamous 2013 Malaysian Grand Prix, where then Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel was instructed to stay behind his teammate Mark Webber. However, Vettel did not do so and went on the attack, eventually taking the win away from Webber.

Possibly this has to do with Monaco

Another defence put forward is the reasoning that this is retaliation from Verstappen for deliberately crashing Perez during qualifying for this year's Monaco Grand Prix. It has never been officially confirmed that Perez did indeed do this intentionally but several journalists do claim this. Again, Buxton disagrees. "If, and this is a big if, this is indeed to do with Monaco, the team should have cleared this up long ago. It should have been pronounced and resolved. Verstappen should have gotten over it already. And looking at how this season has gone he should be focusing on the bigger picture."

"He still has a lot to learn"

All in all, Buxton feels Verstappen has not behaved in a way worthy of a world champion. " Red Bull has never achieved a 1-2 in the championship," Buxton said. "That's now their stated aim. His refusal to help them in that desire yesterday showed pestilence and a sad and selfish short-sighted spitefulness. He's not the complete racer yet. Nor the talisman they need. Much to learn."