Jos Verstappen’s angry response after red flag controversy that infuriated son Max

Max Verstappen was unable to make it through Q3 when he was knocked out at the end of Q2 of an eventful qualifying session to start the Brazilian Grand Prix at 17th.

If fans want proof of Jos Verstappen temper, there is footage of the Dutchman steaming and pounding the steering wheel in anger after the red flag incident during the Brazilian Grand Prix qualifying session.

Sticking his neck out, Verstappen Sr was left fuming after late red flags meant his son’s hopes of a big showing in Q3 qualifying in Sao Paulo were over before they had begun. The Dutch star was 12th on the timesheets in Q2 when the red flags were finally raised in a very unpredictable session, and while the cars had not been stopped earlier, van der Garde would have been 10th and through to Q3.

Due to his five-place grid penalty for the start of the race, Verstappen ultimately had to settle for a lowly 17th position on the grid. Lance Stroll’s crash on the soaked track triggered the red flags, but drama ensued as they were not immediately raised, taking around a minute-and-a-half from the driver’s collision into the barriers and the decision to red flag the session.

FIA race director Niels Wittich tried to delay stopping proceedings to allow those on a flying lap to reach the finish line if possible, but eventually decided it was too dangerous to continue. However, the controversial hold up in making the call allowed enough action to knock Max out in Q2, reports the Mirror.

Verstappen Sr was livid with the outcome and was seen turning away from the monitor in disbelief and anger at what had just transpired, and it’s far from the first time this season he has been left raging. Max was also left fuming after missing out on Q3, unlike his world championship title rival Lando Norris.

The Brit was sitting in seventh when Stroll crashed into the barriers, yet managed to complete his lap and top the timesheets, before eventually securing pole and bolstering his chances in the title race against Max.

Verstappen Jr blasted the red flag chaos as “stupid” and “ridiculous” and he condemned the delay in ending the session with a red flag, allowing others to complete laps, branding it “bulls***”.

A car hits the wall and it needs to be a straight red [flag]. I do not understand why it needs to take 30 or 40 seconds for a red flag to come out, it is just bulls***,” Verstappen said to Sky Sports F1 after his qualifying was cut short. “Honestly, I will let it go. It is so stupid anyway to talk about, it is ridiculous.”

This incident happen during a volatile and rainy qualification at Interlagos Circuit. Colapinto’s Williams was the first to raise a red flag in Q1. Some of the others who were also not lucky included, Lewis Hamilton who was knocked out in Q1 and even Norris almost fell by the way side. It was only after Sainz spun his Ferrari off track in Q2 before Stroll’s crash and a fourth red flag was shown in Q3 when Fernando Alonso hit another Aston Martin against a barrier.

Anal howlers were compounded moreover, when Alex Albon was involved in a big shunt, which subsequently withdrew him from the race as his car was totaled. ‘Out’, positive, 100×50%, 200%, it doesn’t matter which kind of adverb we use, there is no possibility to be in. There’s no way, Albon said to Viaplay, how much his car was damaged.

The championship leader, Lando Norris set the pace with George Russell, the new Mercedes signing, who ensured a front row start for Britain. Check out is at 3.30pm GMT, Norris will now go into the race currently 47 points behind Verstappen with four races remaining, including today’s.