Verstappen addresses Abu Dhabi pit-lane incidents: 'They have to get out the way'

Max Verstappen feels that slower drivers simply need to "get out of the way" in the pit-lane after incidents in Abu Dhabi Grand Prix practice.

After two red flags for Carlos Sainz and Nico Hulkenberg crashing, little time was remaining in the only representative on-track session of the weekend at Yas Marina.

Verstappen exited the pits in the Red Bull, and squeezed through a narrow gap between a wall and the Mercedes duo, going onto set the third-fastest lap of the session as he struggled with balance in the RB19.

Reflecting on his day, after missing FP1 to fulfill Red Bull's mandatory rookie driver session, with Formula E and Red Bull simulator driver Jake Dennis taking his place, Verstappen felt more was on the table.

Verstappen on pit incidents

"I didn't learn much today. The balance of the car was not good," Verstappen explained.

"We had a lot of understeer and the car often jumped away. I didn't expect to be so far behind.

"That's a question mark for us. We were still third, so that's not too bad, but in terms of balance, it still needs to be a lot better."

During the disrupted FP2 session, Verstappen was eager to get going on the restart after the Sainz red flag, and overtake Lewis Hamilton and George Russell exiting the narrow pit-lane.

The World Champion was firm in his belief over what slower drivers should do exiting the pits.

"They have to get out of the way," he said.

"They're all driving slowly and I just wanted to get out there because we didn't have much time.

"They keep driving in the middle and when I try to pass them they cut me off."