Verstappen Defends 'Childish' Expletive-Filled Rant At Hungarian Grand Prix After Collision With Lewis Hamilton

Max Verstappen was handed a public rebuke by his own engineer on Sunday when he blamed Red Bull's strategy for finishing a frustrated fifth after surviving a collision with Lewis Hamilton at the Hungarian Grand Prix. The drivers' championship leader and three-time world champion crashed into Hamilton on lap 63 of the 70-lap race. Verstappen, 26, then remonstrated on team radio and was told not to "be childish" by his race engineer. The Dutch driver was summoned to the stewards office to explain his part in the accident, but no further action was taken by the officials.

Verstappen had ranted in a series of radio messages, many including profanities, about his car, strategy and the accident that most observers promptly said was his fault.

When Verstappen blamed Hamilton for the collision, by moving in his 'braking zone', his normally mild-mannered engineer Gianpiero Lambiase replied in a firm tone.

"I am not even going to get into a radio fight with the other teams, Max," he said.

"We'll let the stewards do their thing. It's childish on the radio, childish."

Verstappen defended his behaviour.

"I don't know why people think that you can't be vocal on a radio," he said.

"This is a sport and if some people don't like that -- then stay home," he added.

This came after a series of notable incidents involving Verstappen, all of which suggested he and Red Bull are struggling with the pressure as McLaren, Mercedes and Ferrari close down their performance and points advantage.

Oscar Piastri won the race ahead of McLaren team-mate Lando Norris with Hamilton finishing third, leaving Verstappen and Red Bull without a win in three races and with three wins in their last eight.

Verstappen, who was briefly airborne after crashing into