Untelevised Verstappen radio reveals Hamilton 'entitled' verdict after Spanish GP clash

New team radio audio from the Spanish Grand Prix has revealed GianPiero Lambiase telling Max Verstappen that Lewis Hamilton was "entitled" not to leave him racing room, after their opening-lap near-miss at Turn 1.

The exchange, never broadcast on the world feed, captures a frustrated Verstappen being told by his race engineer that the rules were on Hamilton's side — and that he had to give the position back.

Why it matters:

The incident highlights the ongoing friction between Verstappen's aggressive racing style and F1's track limits guidelines. Even with Lambiase, his trusted engineer, explaining the ruling, Verstappen made his displeasure clear, branding the situation "stupid" as he slowed to let his former title rival through.

The Details:

• Verstappen ran wide on the opening lap when Hamilton backed out of a move on leaders Lando Norris and Kimi Antonelli, leaving the pair side-by-side into the corner.
• The stewards noted Verstappen for leaving the track and gaining an advantage, forcing Red Bull to instruct him to hand the position back.
• The knock-on effect: Yielding to Hamilton also allowed Antonelli through, with Charles Leclerc close behind in the sister Ferrari.
• Hamilton's race later ended in retirement due to worsening brake issues, while Verstappen recovered to finish P2, 4.3s behind race winner Antonelli.

What's next:

Verstappen held off a late-race attack from Lando Norris to secure second at the Madring, but the unheard radio exchange reveals the tension simmering beneath the surface. With Lambiase reportedly set to join McLaren, moments like this could define their final chapter together.