Max Verstappen clinched his fourth consecutive world championship this season after a very consistent year at Red Bull.
The Dutchman started the season as the class of the field, taking seven victories from the opening 10 rounds to build a significant championship lead.
Verstappen limited the damage throughout the middle of the season as Red Bull struggled and McLaren had the quickest car.
The four-time world champion won the title in Las Vegas which allowed him to head into the final round in Abu Dhabi with less pressure than usual.
He optimistically dived down the inside of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri at Turn 1, and they collided, earning Verstappen a 10-second time penalty.
This hindered both driver’s races as Piastri dropped to the back of the field. Verstappen eventually finished behind both Mercedes drivers in sixth place.
Gian Carlo Minardi explained that he wasn’t happy with one thing Verstappen did during the race, which may show a lack of good management at Red Bull.
Max Verstappen’s ‘inconceivable’ reactions on the radio point to ‘mismanagement’ at Red Bull
Verstappen cost himself and Piastri a lot of time with the contact at Turn 1 at the Yas Marina Circuit and he reacted sarcastically on the radio after serving the penalty.
The Dutchman endured a difficult final race of the season given he lacked pace and received a penalty which ended his hopes of finishing on the podium.
Verstappen said on the team radio: “Can we ask for 20 seconds? Stupid idiots,” which isn’t the best image to be portraying from a four-time world champion.
Former Formula 1 driver Martin Brundle wasn’t happy with Verstappen’s reaction after serving the penalty in Abu Dhabi.
READ MORE: Lando Norris sends eight-word reply to Max Verstappen after congratulating McLaren on winning 2024 title
Minardi also disagreed when speaking to Motorsport Italia and doesn’t feel Verstappen reacts well when he doesn’t have a car to compete.
He said: “It is inconceivable the reactions that a four-time world champion is doing via radio. So I don’t agree with this mismanagement or the freedom that the team gives him because if he doesn’t call back and if he doesn’t find the tools to maintain the image of Red Bull.
“The undisputed four-time world champion is not behaving well in terms of what, for me, is the teaching that these drivers must give to the new young drivers.”
Red Bull’s lead driver is on eight penalty points, and Helmut Marko warned Verstappen in Abu Dhabi about the points on his licence.
Why the 2025 F1 season may be even more difficult for Red Bull’s Max Verstappen
Verstappen is heading into 2025 looking for his fifth world championship in a row after an excellent run of success with Red Bull in the ground effect era.
The Austrian team didn’t have the fastest car for much of this season, particularly after the Miami Grand Prix when McLaren improved a lot.
Ferrari may also be stronger, although Lewis Hamilton may have concerns about qualifying after struggling to compete with his teammate George Russell over a single lap.
Lando Norris made a series of critical errors this year that caused him to lose a lot of points and fail to take the championship. Norris may be a more complete driver in 2025 if he learns from his mistakes.
Leave feedback about this