(Motorsport) Reigning Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen has hit out at the media in a press conference for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, defending his actions against teammate Sergio Perez in Brazil without really justifying his “reasons” for doing so. Last week, Verstappen refused to give up a position for Perez, who is chasing the second place in the Drivers Standings, despite Red Bull instructing the Dutchman to do so. It’s understood that an incident between the pair earlier this season is the reason for Verstappen’s actions, rumoured to be Perez’s crash in the qualifying during the Monaco GP.

Verstappen has defended his actions, blaming “miscommunication” and has hit out at the criticism and hate he and his family have experienced since the incident. The Dutchman has called the media’s portrayal of him “disgusting” and has claimed his family have also been “attacked” with "unacceptable" comments. He said "I already explained [my feelings] in Mexico and the team understood and agreed. We went to Brazil and I just thought we were going to race, trying to get the best possible result. We had a bit of a miscommunication on Saturday and Sunday, nothing had been said to me about a potential swap. 

"It was only coming into that last lap that it was said on the radio, and they should have known my response already from what I said the week before. After that race we had some good discussion, we put everything on the table and everything has been solved. In hindsight, we should have had that conversation earlier because I have never been a bad team-mate to anyone. I've always been very helpful and the team knows that. I always put the team upfront because at the end of the day, it is a team effort. What we learned is that we need to be more open, and we just have to communicate with each other." 

Verstappen then added: "After that race, I looked very bad in the media but they also didn't have the clear picture… but to immediately put me down is pretty ridiculous to be honest. Because they don't know how I work within the team and what the team appreciates about me, so all the things I have read are pretty disgusting. And also even more than that they started attacking my family, threatening my sister, my mum, my girlfriend, my dad and for me that goes way too far while you don't have the facts of what's going on. For me, that has to stop. If you have a problem with me that's fine but don't go after my family because that is just unacceptable. We move on. Honestly, I have a great relationship with Checo. But I just don't understand when people don't have the full picture, to immediately start attacking me like that.

"I hope one day they actually understand what was going on because it's just unacceptable behaviour of so many people. Also people in this paddock, not only fans, a lot of people, what they have been writing about me is just ridiculous.” When asked why Verstappen set the record straight about his “reasons”, the Dutchman replied “We keep it between the team and myself. I'm just a bit fed up with all this bull**** just going around all the time. At the end of the day, I haven't done anything wrong, people just misunderstood what was going on." 

After the race in Brazil, Red Bull Racing issued a statement in which they defended Verstappen. The statement read “As a team we made some mistakes in Brazil. We had not envisaged the situation that unfolded on the last lap and we had not agreed on a strategy for such a scenario before the race. Regretfully, Max was only informed at the final corner of the request to give up position without all the necessary information being relayed. This put Max, who has always been an open and fair team player, in a compromising situation with little time to react which was not our intention. Following the race Max spoke openly and honestly, allowing for both drivers to resolve any outstanding issues or concerns. The team accepted Max's reasoning, the conversation was a personal matter which will remain private between the team and no further comment will be made." 

It continued: "The events that followed from a social media point of view are completely unacceptable. The abusive online behaviour towards Max, Checo, the team and their respective families is shocking and saddening and unfortunately is something that we as a sport are having to address with depressing regularity. There is no place for it in racing or society as a whole and we need to do and be better. At the end of the day this is a sport, we are here to race. Death threats, hate mail, vitriol towards extended family members is deplorable. We value inclusion and want a safe space for everyone to work in and enjoy our sport. The abuse needs to stop."

Red Bull’s Sergio Perez said that the matter had been resolved with Verstappen by saying “We have discussed everything internally. There's been a lot of speculation on social media, a lot of hate, that is not nice to see. We're just ready to move on as a team. What happened there, we discussed it, and we're ready to move on as a team.” Perez also denied that he crashed during qualifying at the Monaco GP intentionally by saying “It's quite clear what happened. I just had a bad lap and chasing the lap-time in Monaco everyone can make mistakes, and not only in Monaco, in any other track." 

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