Max Verstappen has been spotted sharing an intense chat with Red Bull race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase a week after their heated radio messages. The duo appeared to be laughing together in a sign that their relationship was now cordial.
Verstappen was furious with his team’s strategy at last weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix, dubbing it “s***” in a blunt radio message. He also fumed after feeling he was undercut by McLaren’s Lando Norris.
“Okay, so you can just run people off the track then? You can tell the FIA that’s how we’re going to race from now on – just run people off the road,” Verstappen said. Lambiase responded by saying it would be “childish” to get into an argument with another team.
Formula One fans viewed Lambiase’s words as criticism of Verstappen. Helmut Marko admitted that the atmosphere inside the Red Bull camp had been “tense”.
But Verstappen and Lambiase have clearly made up after being spotted engaging in an intense but jovial chat ahead of the Belgium Grand Prix. The Red Bull engineer appeared to be doing most of the talking as Verstappen listened.
But Lambiase was clearly smiling and there was no lingering tension from their apparent spat in Hungary. Verstappen had also complained about the performance of his car as he finished fifth.
“I can’t brake and I can’t enter corners, the three-time world champion bemoaned.
Meanwhile, team principal Horner attempted to play down suggestions of a rift behind the scenes.
“GP, I think at that point actually wasn’t referring to Max, I think he’s referring to others on the radio complaining about penalties,” Horner said after the race, which was won by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.
“Others are obviously goading for penalties, because obviously, the stewards are listening to the radio as well.
“They’ve been together for eight years, and there are things that we could have done better in the race today, but it’s something that we’ll talk about as a team.”
Verstappen was previously dominant in F1, winning three consecutive world titles. However, he has now not won a race since the Spanish Grand Prix on June 23.
In the backdrop of the 26-year-old’s dip in form has been rife speculation over his future. Mercedes have been linked with a blockbuster switch as they attempt to replace the Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton.
