Max Verstappen says he does not understand what happened as he tried to explain the unusual collision between himself and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix winner Lewis Hamilton. The two came together on lap 37 after the Red Bull driver was ordered to give first place back to Hamilton. The Briton ran into the back of the Dutchman as he slowed.
The inaugural race in Jeddah, which was twice red-flagged, was fraught with drama and controversy but it was pole-sitter Hamilton who eventually ruled supreme.
The main talking point of the race was undoubtedly the duel between Hamilton and Verstappen, which left the latter aggrieved post-race as he quickly walked off the podium instead of getting involved in the celebrations.
Quizzed just before the podium presentation by David Coulthard, Verstappen declared: “Yeah it was quite eventful! A lot of things happened which I don’t fully agree with.
“It is what it is. I tried on track to give it my all. I’m not sure if the tyres were lasting until the end. It was good at the beginning of the last stint. It was lacking a bit of rubber towards the end. Nevertheless, still second.”
Asked about the collision with Hamilton, Verstappen declared: “I slowed down! I wanted to let him by. I’m on the right, he didn’t want to overtake and then we touched.
“Yeah. I don’t really understand what happened there.”
The pair head to the last race of the season in Abu Dhabi dead level on 369.5 points but with Verstappen atop the standings due to having more race wins.
The 24-year-old added: “Yeah it will be decided there. Hopefully we have a good weekend. But we’ll see.”
Hamilton meanwhile said of the incident with his title rival: “I didn’t quite understand he all of a sudden hit the brakes quite heavily. I ran into the back of him.
“Then he moved on and I didn’t quite understand what was happening. But I got a message afterwards that he was going to let us past. It was a bit confusing.”
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