Mexican GP: Verstappen fixes bullish image with radio silence

Mexico - Max Verstappen has decided to cut back on his use of Red Bull's team radio because he is worried that his comments make him sound arrogant.

The Dutch teenager told reporters on Thursday that he felt his dialogue with the team was a target for the media who always wanted to broadcast him.

He said he was sensitive to this especially following last weekend's United States Grand Prix during which he was heard to say "I'm not here to finish fourth."

'Sometimes it sounds a bit arrogant'

Two of his rivals, Romain Grosjean of Haas and two-time champion Fernando Alonso of McLaren-Honda have made similar complaints, saying they feel their messages are targeted specifically for broadcasts.

Verstappen said: "All the time when I press my radio button, it's broadcast, and sometimes it sounds a bit arrogant - especially 'I'm not here to finish fourth'." 

"But that's just what comes up in my mind. I'm not there to finish fourth - I'm there to win, as a racer. And on the radio it sounds like I'm arrogant and not listening to the team, but that's not my message to the team.

"It's better to say 'yes, no and ok, for now. Some do love it, some don't, so it's better I don't say anything so you have no discussions."

Verstappen, 19, spoke out ahead of this weekend's Mexican Grand Prix and added that he felt satisfied in general with his current results and approach to racing.

He added: "It's been going pretty well. You can always improve, that's what I'm always trying to achieve, but especially this season I've been pretty consistent.

"You have those moments in your career when you are criticised. I've had it many times with my dad. I was just trying to get past."

He added also that he will not repeat his error in Austin last week, when he came into the pits without warning the team to expect him.

"I saw Daniel (Ricciardo) box the lap before so I thought I would box the next lap for my last stint. That's where it went wrong. I was maybe thinking a bit too much for myself.

"It happened, but it won't happen again."