Verstappen criticised for his behaviour: 'Not how you should do it'
F1 News
The Hungarian Grand Prix was a nail-biting race for many reasons. While at the front, Lando Norris had to execute a team order call and let Oscar Piastri through, Max Verstappen was critical over the team radio of Red Bull Racing throughout Sunday, and finished in P5. Former driver Martin Brundle believes the Dutchman was in the wrong, and also wrote about McLaren's decision.
Brundle believes Verstappen should not treat his team the way he did in Hungary, he wrote in his column for Sky Sports, after everything they achieved together in the past. "He berated his long-suffering engineer and friend Gianpiero Lambiase, and the team who've given him every one of his race victories and three, probably soon-to-be four, world championships."
Verstappen had a difficult race in Hungary. He did not like Red Bull's strategy that led to Lewis Hamilton undercutting him, and then had an incident with Lewis Hamilton. In the heat of the moment, the Dutchman let the team know his frustration. Brundle explained his problem with the three-time world champion's attitude. "I'm such a fan of Max as a driver and a person, in awe of his talent, but I wish he didn't treat the team like that. His legacy should be more sporting."
Brundle on McLaren's decision
A former McLaren driver himself, Brundle chose a softer tone on Lando Norris' decision to let Piastri past. The Briton was also managing David Coulthard, when a similar even happened back at the 1998 Australian Grand Prix. Coulthard himself was ordered to let Mika Häkkinen pass him on the straight in Melbourne, that earned the Finnish driver a victory. "I managed a driver, at McLaren funnily enough, who was absolutely duped into handing over a race victory, not that this was the case on Sunday. I've also seen multiple champions who would have won the race and then handled the nuclear fallout afterwards."
Brundle also praised team principal Andrea Stella. "McLaren has risen to be the team to beat on the grid these past few races because they've had a very strong team ethic and a calm, professional and methodical approach under the increasingly impressive Stella."