Verstappen and Perez in tense TV argument after Austrian GP Sprint near-miss

01 July 2023 , 14:44

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Verstappen and Perez argued after the Sprint (Image: Sky Sports)

Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez had an argument on live TV after the Red Bull drivers almost took each other out at the start of the Austrian Grand Prix Sprint.

The two Red Bulls started on the front row for the short-form race in Spielberg. And there was a tremendous fight between them on the cards from the moment Perez got the better start.

The Mexican made the move at the first corner and took the lead. But Verstappen was coming back at him straight away despite dipping two tyres into the wet grass off the track as he was squeezed by the other Red Bull.

Into turn three, Verstappen locked up slightly and didn't turn as quickly as he would have wanted. Perez, who was on the outside of his team-mate, was forced off the track to avoid a crash.

He came back onto the circuit in second place and readied up for a fight again. But before he could think about a move, Nico Hulkenberg took advantage of their scrap to move past the Mexican and snatch second place.

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Both Red Bull drivers were clearly annoyed with one another. They both jumped onto the radio channel with their team to voice their respective opinions about the battle.

Verstappen complained: "He pushed me off man, what the f***?" But Perez felt it was his opposite number in the wrong and simply asked: "What's wrong with Max, man?"

Sergio Perez went off the track after battling with Max Verstappen at the start of the Sprint (Sky Sports)

Verstappen went on to win the Sprint comfortably. And Perez eventually got past Hulkenberg to secure the one-two finish that their team would have been hoping for.

But there was more drama to come after the race. Verstappen said the incident was "not acceptable" and told his team they would need to speak about it. The drivers didn't bother waiting for the official debrief, though, and made a beeline for one another after getting out of their cars.

TV cameras showed them having a lengthy discussion about what had happened. And, speaking on the grid a few minutes later, Perez admitted that he was in the wrong about squeezing Verstappen off the track and claimed he let the Dutchman past as a result.

Daniel Moxon