Brundle highlights danger in Verstappen radio fury

Martin Brundle has suggested there could be major downstream implications for Red Bull after Max Verstappen's fiery team radio conduct during the Hungarian Grand Prix.

The three-time drivers' champion appeared to be much more calm over the subsequent weekend at Spa-Francorchamps, where he recovered well from P11 on the grid (after a power unit penalty) to claim fourth place by the chequered flag.

However, ex-F1 driver Brundle, who now works as a pundit and commentator for Sky Sports F1, feels the Dutchman's public criticism of the team's strategy at the Hungaroring could lead to safe decisions being made in future - something that could affect his and Red Bull's title challenges.

Throughout the race in Budapest, Verstappen was heard sparring with race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase over team radio. 

However, it appears the 26-year-old's dismissing remarks about the pit stop strategy was a step too far. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner confirmed after the grand prix that he would speak with his driver privately.

"If you rinse your pit wall and your strategist to the tens or hundreds of millions of people listening around the world, they’re human beings," Brundle said on Sky Sports F1.

"Next time they will just take up a safe decision because they don’t want to try an outlier, something a little bit quirky, a little bit different that has won them many races and championships before.

"They will just end up going safe and secure if they’re nervous that they’re going to get called out on the pit wall. This is not about Max, it’s about everybody, it’s better to shut the door and tear pieces out of everybody, come out and go: ‘everything’s fine’."

Verstappen radio comments were 'water off a duck's back'

Speaking separately on Sky Sports F1, Horner made similar comments to Brundle - pointing out the danger in public criticism of the strategy team.

However, whilst the 50-year-old admitted he would have liked to have disconnected the radio at that point - to prevent it being broadcast - he maintained it was "water off a duck's back" for those caught in Verstappen's crosshairs.

"Strategy get a bit of a roasting," Horner said on Sky Sports F1. "Now, what you don't want is for people to go conservative because of a fear of getting their head bitten off.

"But I think everybody in our team knows Max, we know how he responds to a situation and honestly, it was water off a duck's back.

"It's like okay, let him have his say. If we could pull the radio out, we would at that point - it's against the rules to do that. So, that's the way it is."