27/10/2016
NEWS STORY
Fearing he comes across as arrogant, Max Verstappen is considering maintaining radio silence during races.
When told to mind his tyres during last week's United States Grand Prix, Max Verstappen was quick to respond.
"I'm not here to finish fourth," he snapped.
Of course, his mood was a little more contrite following his phantom pit call, but nonetheless the youngster feels the damage has been done.
"On the radio it sounds like I'm arrogant, I'm not listening to the team," he told reporters ahead of this weekend' Mexican Grand Prix. "But that's not my message to the team.
"Some fans do love it, some don't," he added. "I think it's better to just don't say anything so you have no discussions.
"As a driver I always want to go forward, I always actually want to win," he said of his 'not here to finish fourth' cry. "I was just trying to get past."
"I think I'm going to take my radio button off," he said, his mood made all the more serious by the face paint he wore symbolising Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). "From now on it will be 'OK, yes, that's fine', no long sentences for me anymore."
Asked about that pit stop, he said: "I think after almost driving an hour in the car already, you get into a comfort zone, you are in a bit auto-pilot. I saw Daniel boxing the lap before so I thought I will box the next lap for my last stint. I think that's where it went wrong. I was maybe thinking a bit too much for myself."
Check out our Thursday gallery from Mexico City, here.