Max Verstappen caught giving F1 fan the middle finger at Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
Max Verstappen was caught up in an interesting exchange after qualifying at the Emilia Romagna GP
Max Verstappen was caught up in an interesting exchange with a Ferrari fan during qualifying at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, during which he traded middle-finger insults with the supporter.
Verstappen explained that when he pulled into the pit lane during qualifying, among a sea of applauding fans, one Ferrari fan gave him the middle finger.
In response, the Dutchman fired a middle finger back at the Ferrari supporter. He said: "I had a funny story in qualifying where we were driving in the pits
"A lot of people were clapping, then one guy was doing some different things to me so I gave him the finger, and then the next time I came around, he was clapping. So they learn you know?
"It's easy to be not nice drivers, but I can also be not nice to, luckily he was a bit higher up but it’s good after that – I guess he appreciated it."
McLaren's Oscar Piastri added: "I saw the same guy. I think he wasn't giving me the finger but it was a thumbs down."
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When the chequered flag waved at the end of qualifying, Verstappen had plenty to celebrate. The reigning champion was audibly pumped up on the radio after being informed of his record-breaking eighth consecutive pole position.
"A difficult weekend so far, even this morning," he said in his post-race interview. "Incredibly happy to be on pole here. I didn't expect that.
"We made some final changes before Qualifying and they seemed to make it feel better. I could push harder. This track is unbelievable. To be on the limit here in Qualifying, close to the gravel, I touched the gravel in the last corner. The adrenaline is very, very high."
Alongside Verstappen on the front row for the Emilia Romagna GP will be Oscar Piastri. The McLaren starlet out-qualified team-mate Lando Norris, who won last time out in Miami.
Norris was relatively frustrated not to be on the front row after notching his maiden F1 win, but acknowledged the work of his team-mate, who is going from strength to strength.
"P3 is not a bad job at all," he said. "Within a tenth both of us for P1. Tiny margins but for us as a team we have had a great weekend.
"Oscar did a great job and so did Max. Exciting. I can't wait for tomorrow. We are getting closer. To be ahead of Ferrari is also a nice result for us. It's going to be close, it's going to be a good race tomorrow.