"Come on Max Verstappen, you're bigger and better than that": F1 commentator criticizes the Red Bull driver's outburst against the FIA stewards
Renowned Formula 1 commentator David Croft slammed Max Verstappen after the Red Bull driver criticized the FIA stewards during the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The stewards handed the Dutchman a 10-second time penalty after the four-time world champion collided with Oscar Piastri on Lap 1, following which Verstappen called the stewards out on the team radio.
Verstappen started the race behind pole sitter Lando Norris, P2 Oscar Piastri and P3 Carlos Sainz. However, the Dutchman made some ground at the race start and became over-ambitious to go for a gap that he felt existed.
As a result, his right front tangled with Piastri's left rear, sending them both out of the track. Both drivers returned to the race, but their collision made them lose ample track positions. The stewards investigated the incident and handed Verstappen a 10-second time penalty.
Once Gianpiero Lambiase, Verstappen's race engineer, informed him about the same, he lashed out on the radio, and called the stewards "idiots." The whole conversation was broadcast on live television, and this was when Croft picked it up to call the Red Bull driver out.
He said he argued that Verstappen, who already claimed the championship in Las Vegas, has nothing to lose even if he serves the penalty. He stated:
"Come on Max Verstappen, you're bigger and better than that"
Formula 1 is in the United Arab Emirates for the final race of the season. McLaren and Ferrari have gone head-to-head for the Constructors' Championship, while Verstappen already clinched the Drivers' Championship in Las Vegas.
Oscar Piastri took a dig at Max Verstappen after the collision
After Max Verstappen collided with Oscar Piastri, the latter had an interesting reaction to the incident. While it was surely frustrating for the McLaren driver, he took no time to vent his ire on the radio and call out the recently crowned champion, Verstappen.
Here's what he said:
"Yep, move of a world champion. That one."
Verstappen and Piastri's contact on the first lap dealt a potential blow to McLaren in the Constructors' Championship, as Ferrari looked to be at the forefront. However, Piastri's teammate, Lando Norris, held his nerve and went on to win the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix race from pole position and seal McLaren's first Constructors' title since 1998.