Verstappen’s Untelevised Radio Rant: Calls for Penalty Against Leclerc at Mexican GP
Max Verstappen's untelevised radio messages from the Mexican Grand Prix reveal his frustration with Charles Leclerc's on-track behavior. Verstappen pushed for a penalty, arguing that the stewards' decision would have been harsher if roles were reversed.
Max Verstappen's candid feedback over team radio during the Mexican Grand Prix has surfaced, showcasing his demand for Ferrari's Charles Leclerc to either yield his position or face a penalty. Verstappen, not one to sugarcoat, suggested that the FIA stewards would have acted swiftly had he been the one in Leclerc's shoes, dismissing the situation as a "f**king joke."
Verstappen clinched his third win of the 2026 season in Mexico, adding to his victories in Malaysia and Singapore. This triumph came after Leclerc received a five-second penalty for gaining an advantage by leaving the track while dueling with his Ferrari teammate, Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton, too, was vocal over the radio, believing the penalty was too lenient.
The untelevised exchanges revealed Verstappen's irritation with Leclerc not relinquishing the position after cutting a corner at Turn 4. "Yeah, Charles has to give that position. Position now or penalty," Verstappen asserted on Lap 1, with his race engineer, GianPiero Lambiase, acknowledging the message.
By Lap 3, Verstappen was adamant that any infractions by him would have been penalized already. "If it was me in the lead, I would have had a penalty already by now," he remarked. Lambiase assured him that the situation was under investigation.
Ultimately, Leclerc was handed a five-second penalty, which came as a surprise to Verstappen, who had expected a harsher sanction. The FIA stewards' report clarified that typically a ten-second penalty would apply, but Hamilton's own off-track excursion influenced the decision.
Later in the race, Verstappen experienced a moment of alarm when a safety car was deployed just after he passed the pit entry. His frustration was palpable: "No, I cannot! I’m past the f**king pit entry!" He lamented the timing, suggesting it was "beautiful" in a sarcastic tone.
A red flag shortly after allowed all drivers to change tires, and Verstappen managed to fend off Hamilton for the win. Post-race radio chatter between Verstappen, Lambiase, and Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies was filled with congratulatory messages. "Holy s**t! That’s an unbelievable win," Verstappen exclaimed, acknowledging the challenge the race posed.
Mekies praised Verstappen's performance, saying, "You killed everyone today," and commended the driver's control amid the chaos. Lambiase informed Verstappen that Kimi Antonelli had also made the podium and been crowned champion that day, to which Verstappen replied, "Very lovely, that. That was an incredible season for him."
As Verstappen's car came to a stop, he and his team exchanged final words of congratulations, marking the end of a fiercely contested race.