Red Bull drivers forced to apologize after awkward F1 crash

Wrecks aren’t uncommon in Formula 1, but what happened between Red Bull teammates Daniel Ricciado and Max Verstappen at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix is a little different.

Typically teammates will lay off each other in situations like this, as is the case in most motorsports, but the pair have been overly competitive for much of the F1 season, leading to the collision in the closing stages of the GP. It didn’t just knock both drivers out of the race, but caused millions of dollars in damage.

As a result both Ricciado and Verstappen were called back to the Red Bull factory to apologize to team engineers and designers for their actions.

“They will be apologising to the team, and all members of the team, because it is a team sport and that seemed to get forgotten about.”

Both drivers brushed wheels earlier in the race, but team Red Bull decided not to issue orders to the drivers to avoid each other. The team is trying to walk a line where both Ricciardo and Verstappen can compete on their own terms, but it seems the competitiveness between the teammates is getting the better of them.

“They have been reminded that they are part of a team and they have a responsibility in the role that they perform that they are both highly paid individuals to act with the team’s interest at heart, not just their own. The message was delivered very clearly.”

The crash killed any chance for a solid finish for Red Bull in Azerbaijan. Ricciardo is currently fifth in the season standings, with Verstappen in eighth. The next race is scheduled for May 13 in Barcelona, where both drivers are expected to be on their best behavior following the wreck.

“In Barcelona they will be fine, I have no doubt about that,” Team principal Christian Horner told Sky Sports, “But they are both in the dog house. You can see that in their body language.”

Time will tell whether the pair took the admonishment to heart.