Source: Official Team Post via X
Verstappen Backs Teammate Lulham Amid Online Backlash
Max Verstappen has shown support for his teammate Chris Lulham, who faced online abuse following a racing incident at Portimao. Verstappen liked a post condemning the negative comments directed at Lulham after a drive-through penalty dashed their race hopes.
Max Verstappen, known for his prowess on the Formula 1 circuit, found himself in the role of defender off the track. His teammate, Chris Lulham, faced a barrage of online abuse after an incident during the GT World Challenge Europe finale at Portimao. The Dutchman liked a post that condemned this unjustified criticism, standing in solidarity with Lulham.
In the race, Ben Barnicoat had impressively moved the #3 Mercedes from 15th to seventh by the time he handed over to Lulham. Lulham continued the charge until an ambitious maneuver at Turn 8 resulted in contact with Luca Stolz's Mercedes, sending Stolz spinning. This earned Lulham a drive-through penalty, which effectively ended their chances of victory. Max Verstappen, taking the wheel with 45 minutes left, managed to climb back to a ninth-place finish.
The incident and subsequent penalty sparked a wave of hate towards Lulham online. An Instagram post by endurance.media called out this behavior, emphasizing that while racing incidents are part and parcel of motorsport, personal abuse is never warranted. The post highlighted Lulham's impressive transition from esports to real-world racing, where he has achieved significant success, including 16 wins in 18 races in the Radical Cup UK.
The post affirmed that one incident does not define a driver's career or character and reminded fans that motorsport is a shared passion that involves competition, pressure, and sometimes mistakes. It called for respect towards all drivers, regardless of circumstances.
Verstappen's support comes as he prepares to return to Formula 1 action at the United States Grand Prix, kicking off the next triple-header in the F1 calendar.