Top 5 Max Verstappen Meltdown Moments!

We all know Max Verstappen as a four-time world champion driven by his anger. Anger has driven him to much success but also some infamous moments. So today I’ll be going over many of his most infamous meltdowns, tantrums, and crash outs, sometimes in more ways than one!

5. Max Verstappen Calls Out Massa Post-Monaco!

Seeing some of the stuff Max Verstappen has done recently (and we’ll get into them, don’t worry), I’m sure it’s no surprise his temper has always been around. This 2015 incident initially had nothing to do with the Brazilian race winner. As Verstappen infamously hit the back of Romain Grosjean trying to overtake him at Monaco. Massa, after the race, though, talked about Verstappen, saying, “Pretty dangerous,” and cited his lack of experience.

Verstappen wasn’t about to let a veteran trash his game. So the young Dutchman responded by referencing the Brazilian’s crash at the same venue the previous season: “Maybe you should review the race from last year and see what happened there,” he said to the media. Showing everyone the feistiness that would soon define the best and worst moments of his career.

4. Kimi and Max Verstappen Clash In Belgium!

A year later, in 2016, Max Verstappen, after being promoted to Red Bull, was battling with the 2007 Finnish F1 world champion at one of F1’s most classic tracks. Max Verstappen’s aggressive defense was enough to make the coolest and calmest driver in F1 yell over the radio. Moves that I wouldn’t deem as over the line, and the FIA agreed that day, not even calling him into the stewards’ office after the race, which Kimi was not happy about.

3. Max Verstappen Intentionally Hits George Russell At 2025 Spanish GP!

Onto his most recent incident and the one that threatens to see the Flying Dutchman earn himself a race ban with one more penalty point. The drama for Max Verstappen started on lap 64 at the famous Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Following an SC period, Verstappen, frustrated by a stupid tire strategy and a losing position to Charles Leclerc, then found himself under pressure from his rival George Russell.

After being told to give up the position due to an earlier off-track incident, Verstappen appeared to comply, only to dive back inside at Turn 5, slamming into the side of Russell’s Mercedes. The stewards deemed Verstappen responsible afterward, issuing a 10-second penalty and adding three penalty points to his super license. The incident sparked widespread backlash. George Russell said Max Verstappen’s contact was deliberate, stating, “It felt intentional, and there’s no place for that in our sport.” 2016 World Champion Nico Rosberg agreed, labeling the move “horrible” and advocating for Max Verstappen’s disqualification.

Even within Red Bull, questions arose. Team Principal Christian Horner expressed confusion over Max Verstappen’s moves, attributing them to frustration. Mercedes‘ Toto Wolff, however, described the behavior as “incomprehensible,” pointing out the potential dangers such a move poses. Across social media, fans of the sport also called out the Dutchman for the incident, urging the FIA to impose a race ban. Though Lando Norris defeated his ex-title rival, saying he does not believe Max Verstappen has done “anything untoward” in their on-track battles.

2. Max Verstappen Practices His Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu On Esteban Ocon!

The 2018 Brazilian GP looked to be Max Verstappen’s own, with him leading late in the running. Esteban Ocon, though, pitted late was on fresher tires, and was trying to go around the Red Bull. Max Verstappen didn’t give the Frenchman any space, and the two collided. Both spun into the barriers and ruined Max Verstappen’s chance to win. Over the radio, Max warned that if he saw Ocon, he would not be nice, and he proved to be a man of his word. Pushing and punching Ocon after the race in the weight room resulted in public service for the Dutchman as ordered by the FIA.

1. Max’s Mental Meltdown In Hungary In 2024!

Max Verstappen during the 2024 Hungarian GP reached a different level of rage he hasn’t since. At this point, Red Bull’s downfall had been in full swing, with Max Verstappen still amid his 4+ race losing streak. Both Adrian Newey and Johnathan Wheatley had already been confirmed to leave at that time as well, following Horner’s allegations of mistreating female staff. It was already a tense time at Red Bull, and that was something Max was not going to make any better the weekend of the 2024 Hungarian GP.

Starting P3, Verstappen’s race started awfully as he ran wide at Turn 1, the extra tarmac in the run-off area allowing him to get ahead of Lando Norris before race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase asked him to hand the place back to the McLaren driver to avoid a penalty. Then, paralleling Max Verstappen’s recent Spain GP meltdown, it started with a poor strategy call by Red Bull that cost him track positions. Max Verstappen’s frustration on the radio even caused Red Bull’s strategist to almost cry on camera.

Later, Max Verstappen attempted to overtake old title rival Lewis Hamilton from the Italian peninsula, only for the Brit to turn in at the worst time. Making contact with the Red Bull that sent him flying in the air. He still managed a 5th place finish after all that, but it was a weekend to forget for Max fans. Thanks a bunch for reading!