 "Defending four-time world champion Max Verstappen will begin from the third grid at the Spainish Grand Prix. Reuters")
Reigning Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen has admitted to deliberately destroying a Ferrari cone in the ongoing season, in which he has won two races and secured a total of four podium finishes so far. The Red Bull Racing star has further warned that he will do it again if they put it too close to his pit box.
Red Bull’s Verstappen warns Ferrari ahead Spanish GP
Verstappen’s stern message comes after pictures of a damaged orange cone went viral on social media during the Spanish Grand Prix, whose main race is set to take place at Barcelona’s Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya later on Sunday. This was after footage emerged of Verstappen mowing the cone down with his car.
“Yeah, that one’s mine. Ferrari always put the cones quite far out so I said, ‘if this happens one more time I’m ruining it completely’,” Verstappen was quoted by The Daily Express as saying.
“It’s been a couple of races. I said, ‘if it’s there again, I’m just driving over it completely’. If it’s there again later, I’m running it over again,” the 27-year-old added, sending a clear message to ‘Prancing Horse’ – whose season has been far from ideal despite signing seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.
As for Sunday’s race, Verstappen is set to start third on the grid behind current leader Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in the two McLarens.
Mercedes’ George Russell is set to start fourth while Hamilton and Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc will start fifth and seventh respectively, the latter finishing behind Kimi Antonelli in the other Mercedes.
“We were lacking all weekend compared to them,” Verstappen said on Red Bull losing out on the front row to McLaren, the reigning constructors’ champions.
“We executed well. Third is where we more or less should be. It’s fun. Around here it’s about squeezing everything out of the car. I will try my best [on Sunday] but they will be tough to beat,” Verstappen, who is eyeing a fifth consecutive title this season, added.