Max Verstappen didn’t respond to Red Bull’s request to slow down before going on to set the fastest lap of the F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Verstappen recovered from 15th on the grid to finish second behind teammate Sergio Perez in Jeddah but was able to retain a one-point championship lead thanks to a last-gasp effort to claim the fastest lap.
Both Verstappen and Perez reported reliability concerns in the closing stages of the race, and with the gap between them hovering at around five seconds, Red Bull asked both drivers to stick to a target lap time of 1m33.00s.
A transcript of the radio communications between Verstappen and his engineer Gianpiero Lambiase have revealed the Dutchman failed to respond to multiple requests to slow down.
Verstappen was heard asking for information about the fastest lap towards the end, before he posted a new benchmark on the final lap of the race to snatch the bonus point away from Perez.
Verstappen’s team radio
Lap 39
GP: Ok Max that was track limits for Turn 23 again. We will like to target a 33.0. 33.0.
GP: Max any more feedback on that issue from before?
VER: Well it’s still there
GP: Yup understood. Ok target 33.0. 33.0
Lap 40
GP: That’s 33.0
GP: Max, confirm 33.0
Lap 41
GP: 33.0. 33.0
Lap 43
GP: Max, can you target 33:0 please?
Lap 45
GP: Ok that’s 5 laps remaining coming up. Gap is 5+
VER: What’s the fastest lap?
GP: We are not concerned about that at the moment Max.
VER: Yeah but I am.
GP: So, 32.1, 32.1.
Lap 49
GP: And this is your final lap.
Chequered flag
Perez was left irritated about the “different information” he received about the fastest lap, something that was highlighted in his late-race radio exchanges to race engineer Hugh Bird.
Perez’s team radio
Lap 39
HB: Ok back to target now. So we’re just covering Fernando he is doing 33.1
PER: Sorry repeat
HB: Target lap time 33.0. Max targetting the same. For reference that is +0.8 on the dash. +0.8.
PER: I’m having a bit of a long brake pedal
Lap 40
HB: Yeah copy we’re having a look
Lap 41
HB: Target 32.6. +0.4
PER: Is Max doing the same?
HB: Max’s last lap is 32.6
PER: Then why did you tell me 33:0?
HB: Just target plus four, jobs a good’un
PER: We are pushing without a reason guys, not smart to do
Lap 42
HB: Your lap 32.6. Max’s lap 32.6
PER: Guys we don’t really need this
HB: 8 laps to go
PER: Let’s go. Let’s go do 33.0
Lap 42
PER: What is the gap?
HB: Gap is 4.3
PER: So are we pushing now?
HB: You’re free to push. Free to push
Lap 45
HB: 5 laps to go. Target +0.8. Gap 5.5 seconds
HB: Max’s last lap 33.0
Lap 48
PER: What is the fastest lap at the moment?
HB: You’ve got the fastest lap. That’s a 32.1
Chequered flag
PER: Did we get the fastest lap in the end or?
HB: You were pipped on the last lap
PER: Ah, great! Aha
Keyword: Max Verstappen’s radio silence amid Red Bull’s request to slow down at F1 Saudi Arabian GP