Max Verstappen hits out at media and reaction to Sergio Perez team order snub as Red Bull defend driver

“To immediately put me down is pretty ridiculous to be honest,” said Verstappen of the media’s reaction. “Because they don’t know how I work within the team and what the team appreciates about me so all the things I have read are pretty disgusting.”

Max Verstappen hit out at the media in a heated press conference for the Abu Dhabi GP as the double Formula 1 world champion defended – but still refused to fully explain – his snub of Red Bull’s Sergio Perez team orders in Brazil.

At the Sao Paulo GP last Sunday, Verstappen refused to give up a position to Perez, who is chasing second place in a drivers’ championship the Dutchman has dominated, despite Red Bull’s instructions, later citing an incident between the pair earlier in the season as his reason for doing so.

It is understood to be related to Perez’s crash in qualifying for the Monaco GP back in May – and although Verstappen has still yet to confirm that – on Thursday ahead of the final race of the 2022 season he said the row was a result of a miscommunication and hit out at criticism of him. Verstappen called the media’s portrayal “disgusting” and claimed his family had also been “attacked” with “unacceptable” comments.

Verstappen, whose comments followed a statement by Red Bull that admitted their mistakes and also condemned abuse, said of the incident: “I already explained [my feelings] in Mexico and the team understood and agreed.

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Sky Sports News’ Craig Slater reports that team-mates Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez have resolved their dispute over team orders in Brazil.

“We went to Brazil and I just thought we were going to race, try to get the best possible result. We had a bit of a miscommunication on Saturday and Sunday, nothing had been said to me about a potential swap.

“It was only coming into that last lap that it was said on the radio, and they should have known my response already from what I said the week before. After that race we had some good discussion, we put everything on the table and everything has been solved.

“In hindsight, we should have had that conversation earlier because I have never been a bad team-mate to anyone.

“I’ve always been very helpful and the team knows that. I always put the team upfront because at the end of the day, it is a team effort. What we learned is that we need to be more open, and we just have to communicate with each other.”

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Max Verstappen refuses to let teammate Sergio Perez back through and is furious with Red Bull on the team radio.

Verstappen added: “After that race, I looked very bad in the media but they also didn’t have the clear picture… but to immediately put me down that is pretty ridiculous to be honest. Because they don’t know how I work within the team and what the team appreciates about me, so all the things I have read are pretty disgusting.

“And also even more than that they started attacking my family, my sister, my mum, my girlfriend my dad and for me that goes way too far while you don’t have the facts of what’s going on. For me that has to stop.

“If you have a problem with me that’s fine but don’t go after my family because that is just unacceptable.

“We move on. Honestly, I have a great relationship with Checo. But I just don’t understand when people don’t have the full picture, to immediately start attacking me like that.

“I hope one day they actually understand what was going on because it’s just unacceptable behaviour of so many people. also people in this paddock, not only fans, a lot of people what they have been writing about me is just ridiculous.”

More to follow.