Raikkonen and Wolff issue Verstappen warning after latest flashpoints at Spa in defence of position
Monday 5 September 2016 09:14, UK
Max Verstappen has been warned he will cause a big accident unless he reins in his defensive driving style after more flashpoints in the Belgian GP.
The Red Bull youngster's driving came under fresh scrutiny at Spa after several wheel-to-wheel incidents, notably down the 200mph Kemmel Straight mid-way through the race when Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen had to back off as Verstappen moved to block him.
Verstappen launched a staunch defensive of his driving after the race, criticising rivals such as Raikkonen for "moaning" and suggesting complaints over his approach were a "big lie".
Max hits out at Ferrari drivers
However, Raikkonen fears Verstappen will cause a "massive accident" unless the 18-year-old changes his approach.
"I'm completely fine with good, hard racing but when I had to back off and brake before Turn Five on the straight not to hit somebody, something is not correct," the Finn told reporters.
"That in my view is completely not correct. Obviously, for whatever reason, the stewards said it was okay but if I wouldn't have braked we would have had a massive accident. I'm sure it will happen sooner than later if this doesn't change.
"But it seems to be okay, it'll be interesting to see once something happens who is to blame."
Raikkonen and Verstappen, the oldest and youngest drivers on the grid respectively, have had several run-ins already this season. At last month's Hungarian GP, Raikkonen was annoyed by what he felt was the Red Bull moving twice to block him in braking zones.
"There are always opinions from everybody, does it change an awful lot?" Raikkonen added.
"Maybe it needs an accident before things get clearer to everybody, but hopefully not because it can be a bit bad for somebody and nobody wants to see someone get hurt."
Meanwhile, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff described Verstappen's driving as "refreshing but dangerous".
"He is refreshing," Wolff said. "He is a young boy that I like a lot. He comes in here [to F1], no fear, no respect, puts the elbows out and it reminds me of the great ones. It reminds me of Lewis [Hamilton], it reminds me of Ayrton Senna, and you can clearly see that some guys are starting to think twice how to overtake him.
"Until now, all that has proven he is on the right track. The FIA has not penalised it, the only thing that happened is that he was given a hard time in some driver briefings - and the next time he's going to have a harder time.
"I just feel that it might end up in the wall heavily one day. As much as we like his impetuosity, it's refreshing, but it's dangerous."
