Verstappen snaps back: "I don't do these things on purpose"
F1 News
It's been another brilliant year for Max Verstappen, with the 2024 season giving him his fourth consecutive drivers' championship after the Las Vegas Grand Prix. However, his season did not end perfectly at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix due to the Dutchman's lap 1 collision with Oscar Piastri that saw him get penalised.
Verstappen made a good getaway at the Yas Marina Circuit, beating Carlos Sainz off the line and moving up into P3. However, an ambitious move down this inside of Piastri at turn 1 quickly went wrong, as the 27-year-old understeered out of the corner and into the Australian, spinning them both around.
Piastri tumbled to the back of the grid, while a fortunate spin meant Verstappen fell to just P11. However, he was handed a ten-second time penalty for this incident, with he then having some choice words for the FIA stewards after serving the penalty during his first pit-stop.
Verstappen: "That's how you win or lose a championship"
In the paddock after the Grand Prix, while speaking to several media sources including GPblog, Verstappen was asked about the incident and if he wanted McLaren to win the constructors' championship after colliding with Piastri. The Dutchman snapped back at that question: "No, I don't do these things on purpose. I mean, that's racing as well, right? It doesn't only happen here Throughout the whole season, then you can blame things or... That's how you win or lose a championship."
Even with the incident between Verstappen and Piastri, McLaren were still able to seal their first constructors' title since 1998 thanks to a fine race win from Lando Norris. With Verstappen winning the drivers' title and Norris aiding McLaren's championship win, it all points to another titanic battle between the two of them for championship glory in 2025.
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