Max Verstappen, four-time world champion, Red Bull’s golden boy, and easily one of the most entertainingly confrontational people to ever sit in an F1 car. He’s fiery, he’s fierce, and if you’re lining up next to him on the grid, you better hope you packed your ego in a fireproof box.
But Max’s intensity doesn’t stop at the chequered flag. Over the years, he’s managed to spark beefs with a whole cast of characters, teammates, rivals, stewards, and even entire organisations.
Keeping track of all the drama? Tough. So, I’ve done it for you. Buckle up, here’s your chronological guide to Verstappen’s greatest hits… of beef.
1. Charles Leclerc
Before they were F1 darlings, Max and Charles were teenagers hurling karts (and occasionally insults) at each other. In the 2012 WSK Euro Series, the two future superstars clashed, literally, when Leclerc pushed Verstappen off the track during Round 2. The tension was high, and so was the entertainment value.
The post-race interview? Iconic. Watch it here. Max, full of righteous fury; Charles, completely unbothered. Pure gold.
Years later, Verstappen said:
“I always thought that, if I would make it to F1, Charles would also make it.”
(📸 NDTV)
Now? They’re all smiles in the paddock — the kind of mutual respect that only comes after years of low-key hating each other.
2. Esteban Ocon
If you’re going to unlap yourself, maybe don’t do it by crashing into the race leader. That’s what Ocon did in Brazil 2018, tagging Max and spinning him out while he was leading the race. Verstappen still managed P2, but he was not in a forgiving mood.
Cue this absolutely heated post-race scene: Max shoves Ocon repeatedly in parc fermé, earning himself two days of community service.
“I was after an apology, and I got a bit of a different response.”
— Verstappen, probably clenching his fists behind his back
The FIA was unimpressed. Twitter was thrilled. These days, the two seem chill(er), but the footage lives on in F1 beef history.
3. Daniel Ricciardo
It was all fun and shoeys… until it wasn’t.
By 2018, Ricciardo was supposed to be Red Bull’s lead driver. But Verstappen? He had other plans — and pace. The tension simmered until it boiled over at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where the two collided after Verstappen made a late defensive move and Ricciardo (with DRS) had nowhere to go. Watch the crash.
No official blame was placed, but behind the scenes? Red Bull started siding more with Max. Ricciardo left the team by the end of the year.
Now, they’re paddock pals again. Because nothing heals a feud like not being teammates anymore.
4. FIA & Stewards
If Verstappen had a sworn nemesis, it might just be the FIA itself.
Max’s driving style has always leaned “aggressively interpretive,” which has naturally put him at odds with the rule-makers. But 2021 and 2022? Peak beef years.
Exhibit A: Austria 2022
Verstappen (and others) were slapped with multiple track limits penalties. He called the whole thing a “joke”, adding that it made F1 look like “an amateur sport.”
Exhibit B: Japan 2022
A recovery vehicle was released in wet conditions on track, not far from Pierre Gasly, no less. Verstappen, referencing the tragic Jules Bianchi incident in 2014, was furious.
“This is not Formula 1.”
The beef hasn’t really gone away. Max continues to call out the FIA whenever he feels like it, which is often, and frankly, that’s kind of his thing now.
5. George Russell
2024, the Baku bump. It was supposed to be a calm Sprint race. It was not.
In Baku 2023, Russell dove down the inside of Turn 2 and slammed into Max, carving a giant hole into the side of his car. Verstappen finished P3, but what he really wanted was vengeance, and he let Russell know it immediately in the cooldown room.
🗣️ “We all have no grip… but I guess that’s just me, right?”
🗣️ Russell: “I had no grip.”
🗣️ Max: “Expect the same next time, d*head.”
Russell tried to brush it off, calling it “hard racing.” But later interviews hinted at deeper frustration, with Russell suggesting Verstappen’s dominance means “no one stands up to him.”
They haven’t spoken much since. Awkward.
Max Verstappen’s feuds have ranged from the karting circuits to F1 championships. His intensity, aggression, and unapologetic lack of media training has made him a magnet for controversy. However, this has also made him one of the sports most compelling characters with many people hating him and many people loving him. Well, either way, no one can say that he is boring.
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