Max Verstappen got upset with the team order received during the first laps of the Spanish Formula 1 GP. The Red Bull Racing driver had to give back second position after a battle with Lewis Hamilton in the first corner.
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Starting from third position on the grid, Verstappen shared space with Hamilton arriving at turn 1 of the new Madrid circuit. The Dutchman ended up pushing the opponent off the track following turn 2, and as the lap continued, he managed to take second place by overtaking Kimi Antonelli.
The situation, however, was questioned by Hamilton over the radio. The Ferrari driver asked Verstappen to give the position back, while the four-time world champion presented his own version to the team, arguing that staying on the track would have caused contact between the two cars.
This discussion continued as the first laps were completed, until Gianpiero Lambiase, Verstappen’s race engineer, communicated that he should give back second position. The order provoked an immediate reaction from the Dutchman.
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“Man, what the f*** are you talking about? He would have crashed. Like, what are you talking about? If I just stay on the track, I’m out of the race,” Verstappen said over the radio.
Even though he was upset, the Dutch driver ended up complying with the team order, and Kimi Antonelli and Hamilton passed the Red Bull car, dropping Verstappen to fourth position. Shortly after, however, Hamilton retired from the race due to a brake problem, allowing Verstappen to regain a position.
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