Verstappen to limit radio comms to avoid sounding "arrogant"

The Dutchman was in the spotlight once again during the United States Grand Prix following a radio exchange with his engineer, who asked him to take care of his tyres so they would last the whole stint.

Verstappen replied "I'm not here to finish fourth" as he fought for position with Mercedes' Nico Rosberg.

The Red Bull driver admitted his message sounded arrogant, but insisted he is aware that the team is just trying to help him.

"The thing is that all the time that I press my radio button it's broadcast, so sometimes it sounds a bit arrogant," said Verstappen.

"Especially that 'I'm not here to finish fourth', but that's what comes up in my mind. I'm not there to finish fourth at the end of the day, I'm there to win, as a racer.

"But on the radio it sounds arrogant and like I'm not listening to the team, but that's not my message to the team.

"They are always trying to help you, so I wouldn't say it's unnecessary. We'll try to do an even better job."

Verstappen jokingly said that he plans to get rid of the radio button.

"I think I'm gonna take my radio button off, so no radio for me anymore," he said. "As a driver I always want to go forward. I want to win, that's always the aim. I was trying to get past, that's how I did it with Kimi [Raikkonen] as well.

"That was like, I arrived and I got past, but with Nico it didn't really work out, but at the end of the day I did damage my left front a bit, but it was not that bad.

"I think it's better to just not say anything so there are no discussions. No long sentences for me anymore."

The Dutchman was also the protagonist of another incident during the Austin race when he pitted without warning, catching his mechanics unready.

Verstappen said the mistake occurred because he was on "auto-pilot", and insisted it will not happen again.

"You always have a bit of coded messages, of course. We spoke about some things, but for me after driving for an hour you get into your comfort zone and are on auto-pilot.

"I saw Daniel box the lap before so I thought I'll box the next lap for my last stint. And that's where it went wrong. So maybe I was thinking to myself a bit too much.

"I think it won't happen again."

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