Max Verstappen has condemned the personal insults directed at his teammate Chris Lulham on social media. The incident occurred during the final round of the GT World Challenge Europe in Portimão, after which Lulham was heavily criticized online. Verstappen subsequently took a public stance and defended the Briton.
In his Instagram statement, Verstappen clearly distinguished between factual criticism and personal attacks. Everyone was entitled to their own opinion on the events on the race track, the Dutchman emphasized. However, insults and personal attacks were not acceptable. At the same time, he praised Lulham’s performance and pointed out that mistakes can happen in motorsport.
With his statement, Verstappen sends a clear message against personal defamation on the internet. His message is that controversial racing scenes can be discussed and evaluated in a sporting manner. However, personal attacks on the drivers involved cross a clear line.