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Red Bull Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen says he accepts that the language he used over the radio following his Friday practice collision with Lance Stroll during the Portuguese Grand Prix weekend was “not correct”.
Verstappen attempted to pass Stroll on the inside of Turn 1 during the second free practice session at the Algarve circuit and was only partly alongside when Stroll turned in for the right-hander.
Following the collision, Verstappen was critical of Stroll over the radio and used terminology derogatory towards those with Down’s Syndrome and those from Mongolia.
No sooner had we started and we've stopped again! 😮
Verstappen and Stroll tangle at Turn 1, Stroll spins into the gravel and we have another 🚩 Red Flag 🚩#PortugueseGP 🇵🇹 #F1 pic.twitter.com/hFI0gKBcfO
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 23, 2020
“What, is this fucking guy blind?” Verstappen shouted. “What the fuck is wrong with him?
“Jesus Christ. What a r****d. Yeah, I have damage. What a M****l, I swear.”
When asked about what he said in Portugal last weekend, Verstappen had said it was “not my problem” if people took offence.
But asked about it again in a press conference ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola, he accepted the language used was wrong
“First of all, I never intended to offend anyone, that’s never what I wanted,” said Verstappen.
“It happened in the heat of the moment. When you are driving at such speeds, things like that can happen.
“I don’t say that the words I chose were the right ones, I also know that they are not correct. But once again I never meant to offend anyone with that.
“And besides that, I was swearing at Lance but then of course I saw him straight away after.
“That’s what racing drivers are as well, we can be angry at each other but within five minutes when we talk to each other and look each other in the eyes, then it’s forgotten.
“I think sometimes things get a bit heated up from the outside. I never meant to hurt anyone in particular so I don’t think they need to make it bigger than it is.
“I also know that it was not correct. I cannot change it but of course you learn from it and will do better.”
