Verstappen apologised to GP: 'For that reason he did'

At the end of qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix, a striking radio message sounded from Max Verstappen towards his race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase. The Dutchman apologised despite the fact that he had just scored his 33rd pole position in F1. Here's why.

Will Buxton went to investigate on behalf of F1TV at Red Bull Racing, where he was given details of Verstappen's apology to GP. "Apparently, it was just because he hadn't improved in the third sector. And he was that contrite and that apologetic. “Oh, I'm so sorry. I just didn't improve.”"

Former Formula One driver Jolyon Palmer added: "This is the standards of Max and GP, though, isn't it? When there's not absolute perfection, there's apologies all around." Presenter Laura Winter was under the impression that something serious had happened, given the tone of Verstappen's radio message. However, it turned out to be purely about the fact that he had not driven a perfect lap in Q3.