Max Verstappen has voiced his displeasure with McLaren driver Oscar Piastri following a controversial moment during the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. The Dutchman, who finished a disappointing fifth, was furious about a question Piastri asked Nico Hülkenberg in the cooldown room after the race. Verstappen called the question “mean” and called on Piastri to show more respect for his colleagues. The incident, which occurred during a weekend in which Hülkenberg secured his first Formula 1 podium, has inflamed emotions in the paddock and led to fierce debate on social media.
The British Grand Prix was a memorable race, not only because of the rainy conditions and Lando Norris’ victory, but also because of Hulkenberg’s historic performance. The German, who finally stood on the podium after 239 races with a third place for Sauber, was seen by many as the star of the weekend. Verstappen, a close friend of Hulkenberg, was visibly happy for him and celebrated the moment exuberantly. However, the atmosphere changed when Piastri, who was given a ten-second time penalty for a controversial braking move behind the safety car, asked a question that Verstappen felt was inappropriate. Although the exact content of the question has not been made public, sources suggested it was a sensitive comment about Hulkenberg’s long wait for a podium.
Verstappen, who himself endured a difficult race after a spin and set-up issues with his Red Bull, spoke to the international media afterwards. “It’s not right to ask something like that,” he said fiercely. “Show respect to others instead of asking a sensitive question. Nico deserves this moment, and everyone should celebrate that.” His words reflect the close bond between the two drivers, who have shared a friendship for years. On social media, particularly on X, fans praised Verstappen’s loyalty, with messages such as: “Max always supports his friend, class!” Others criticized Piastri, with one user writing: “Oscar must learn to keep his mouth shut at such moments.”
The controversy surrounding Piastri’s request comes on top of the criticism he has already received for his actions on track. During the race, Piastri braked suddenly hard behind the safety car, forcing Verstappen to take evasive action to avoid a collision. The stewards ruled that Piastri had broken the rules by driving erratically, resulting in a time penalty and two penalty points on his license. Piastri himself took issue with the penalty and voiced his frustration, further fueling tensions with Verstappen. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella even suggested that Verstappen may have deliberately exaggerated the situation to provoke a penalty for Piastri, an accusation that Red Bull dismissed as unfounded.
The race at Silverstone attracted 500,000 spectators and was a spectacle, partly due to the rain that made for unpredictable conditions. While Norris won his home race and Hulkenberg took his long-awaited podium, Verstappen struggled with the performance of his RB21. He acknowledged that Red Bull has lost ground this season to McLaren, who dominate with Norris and Piastri thanks to superior tire management and innovative brake cooling. Verstappen called on his team to investigate why recent updates were not delivering the desired results, and stressed that the 61-point deficit to championship leader Piastri is difficult to close.
Verstappen’s outburst against Piastri highlights the intense rivalry in Formula 1, where personal and professional tensions often collide. Hulkenberg’s podium was seen by many, including Verstappen, as a triumph of perseverance, and Piastri’s attempt to overshadow the moment with an inappropriate question was not well received. Fans on X went wild, with some calling Piastri’s move “unsportsmanlike” and others praising Verstappen’s passion. As Formula 1 gears up for the next few races, the dynamic between Verstappen, Piastri and Hulkenberg remains a fascinating subplot. For now, Verstappen seems determined to defend his friend and uphold sporting values.
