Max Verstappen addressed his Lap 1 collision with Oscar Piastri at the Abu Dhabi GP, emphasizing the importance of resolving the issue directly with the Australian driver. The incident, which occurred during an overtaking attempt by Verstappen, resulted in both cars spinning and cost them competitive results.
Despite receiving a ten-second penalty, Verstappen managed to finish sixth, while Piastri ended up in tenth. Following the race, Verstappen wasted no time apologizing to the McLaren driver, whom he considers a good friend, to clear the air before heading into the off-season.
Speaking to Sportskeeda, Verstappen explained his decision to apologize immediately:
“I went straight to him. We don’t need to compare it to anything. I just wanted to address it immediately so there’d be no unresolved feelings.”
Reflecting on the penalty, Verstappen admitted he was relieved to put the season behind him and was focused more on mending his relationship with Piastri than debating the stewards’ decision.
The four-time world champion took full responsibility for the clash, acknowledging his misjudgment in attempting an inside overtake after a strong launch. He explained that his move was too ambitious, leaving little room for both drivers to avoid contact.
“The launch was good, and I tried to go on the inside, but I quickly realized the gap was closing. I wanted to get out of it, but unfortunately, we still clipped each other,” Verstappen said. “I already apologized to Oscar—it’s not what you want, especially with someone like him. He’s a great guy.”
Verstappen admitted that his friendship with Piastri amplified his regret over the incident, describing it as a “bit unfortunate” but entirely his fault. He also expressed surprise at the relatively lenient penalty, suggesting the stewards might have imposed a harsher sanction.
Verstappen concluded the 2024 season with his fourth Drivers’ Championship, finishing with 437 points and nine race wins across 24 races. Meanwhile, McLaren celebrated a historic Constructors’ title—its first since 1998—narrowly defeating Ferrari, who finished just 14 points behind. Red Bull secured third place in the standings after a season marked by challenges and late-season improvements.
With friendships intact and his championship reign extended, Verstappen now looks ahead to 2025, hoping to avoid similar incidents and continue his dominance in Formula 1.
