Max Verstappen racing on the circuit with a backdrop of passionate Ferrari supporters.
Breaking the hearts of Ferrari’s Tifosi as he shrugged off his practice woes to grab pole position at Imola, Max Verstappen responded to one fan’s “different” gesture with one of his own as he gave him the finger.
Verstappen faced a formidable challenge from Ferrari and McLaren in qualifying, as he grappled with the handling of his RB20 and a persistent lack of grip throughout all three practice sessions at Imola.
Max Verstappen: So I gave him the finger
However, after everything had been said and done, the Red Bull driver managed to surpass all three qualifying segments and secure their eighth consecutive pole position with a remarkable time of 1:14.746.
Verstappen received feedback from a dissatisfied fan regarding the unfolding of qualifying.
The response from the triple World Champion was reciprocal.
“In the post-qualifying press conference, the pole-sitter at Imola shared an amusing incident that occurred during the qualifying session. We were driving in the pits when this funny story unfolded.”
There was a large crowd of people clapping. However, there was this one guy who was behaving differently towards me, so I responded by giving him a rude gesture. Surprisingly, the next time I encountered him, he was clapping along with the rest of the crowd. It seems that people can learn and change their behavior.
“You see, it’s simple to be unkind to drivers, but I can also reciprocate that behavior towards you, you know! Fortunately, he held a slightly superior position. Nevertheless, it’s a positive outcome. I suppose he found value in my actions.”
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The fan was also acknowledged by Oscar Piastri, who initially qualified second but dropped to fifth due to a penalty for obstructing Kevin Magnussen during Q1.
However, despite not being given the finger, the gentleman clearly did not appreciate Piastri’s performance. However, he never received the applause that Verstappen later received.
“He said he saw the same guy, or at least he thought it was him. Instead of flipping him off, the guy was giving him a thumbs down,” he explained.
“But he was applauding you. Amazing. Have you recently inked a deal with Ferrari or something? Is there some undisclosed news that we are unaware of?”
“I’m not sure. Well, it’s enjoyable. In my opinion, a bit of friendly banter towards the opposing team is always entertaining and a natural part of sports. However, there should always be boundaries.”
In my opinion, this exemplifies the essence of sports. Often, when observing the intense rivalries and conflicts within football, one can witness an overwhelming amount of passion from both parties involved.
The Ferrari fans, in my opinion, are the ultimate example of devoted fans. They have shown great hospitality throughout the weekend, although not as much from afar in the pit lane. Nonetheless, their passion has been evident, and these are the types of fans that we admire in the world of Formula 1.
Regarding Lando Norris, he secured P3 on the day but moved up to second on the grid due to his teammate’s penalty. He believes that the fans quite enjoyed his performance.
He mentioned, “I actually spotted the same individual, but I believe he was supporting my team. Honestly, the Italian supporters have consistently shown me kindness and immense support. Their unwavering passion and loyalty have made them exceptional fans, and I am truly grateful for their continual support.”
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