“Hamilton’s former rival slams ‘sulking’ Verstappen after Saudi GP”

FORMULA 1 world champion Nico Rosberg has slammed Max Verstappen’s comments after he finished second in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

The Dutchman, 25, kicked off the 2023 season in superb style with a convincing victory in Bahrain.

Mas Verstappen said he was unhappy after the Saudi Arabia despite a Red Bull one-twoCredit: Getty

World champion Nico Rosberg has criticised Verstappen for his commentsCredit: Getty

But mechanical problems on Saturday then saw him qualify 15th for the Saudi GP.

And while he comfortably recovered to move into second place, Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez claimed his first win of the year ahead of the reigning world champion.

After the race, Verstappen said: “I recovered to second which is good and in general the whole feeling in the team is happy.

“But personally I am not happy. I am not here to be second, especially when you are working very hard back at the factory to come here in a good state and making sure everything is spot on.”

He then went on to add: “When you are fighting for a championship and it looks like it is just between two cars [Verstappen and Perez] you have to make sure the two cars are reliable. 

“We have to do better, absolutely – a cleaner weekend would be nice.”

Rosberg, who twice lost out to Lewis Hamilton in the 2014 and 2015 championships before getting the better of him in 2016, was left unimpressed by Verstappen’s comments.

Speaking on Sky Sports, the ex-Mercedes star said: “It is not good to see.

“We were also told he skipped the team meeting [on Saturday] apparently.

“I don’t think it’s a good approach or mentality so early in the season when the team has done such a brilliant job and worked so hard. I think he could be more gracious.”

Verstappen leads Perez by one point in the drivers’ championship heading into the third race of the season in Australia.

Hamilton and Rosberg tussled for the world title on three occasionsCredit: PA:Press Association