F1 drivers disagreeing with FIA 'like a relationship' - Verstappen

Max Verstappen has declared it "quite normal" to disagree with FIA decisions in F1 and likened the fallouts drivers can have with the stewards to a relationship.

Red Bull driver Verstappen's maiden title win was immediately overshadowed in Abu Dhabi by a double Mercedes protest given the controversial ending surrounding the safety car procedure.

Those protests were thrown out by the stewards, confirming Verstappen as champion on the night but Mercedes then lodged an intention to appeal.

The Silver Arrows opted not to pursue that course of action, although the FIA set out a "clarification process" to ensure the sport learns from any errors - if any - that were made.

When asked at the FIA prize-giving gala, where he was presented with his drivers' title trophy, whether he felt the need for such a commission, Verstappen said: "I sometimes don't agree with what's happened in a race, but that's quite normal.

"You even have that in your relationships - you sometimes don't agree with things.

"Throughout the whole year, maybe it didn't look like it but I always had a good relationship with the stewards. When we were in there, sometimes it's a tough call."

Referring to his two days of public service he was ordered to serve by the FIA in 2019 after pushing Esteban Ocon after the 2018 Brazilian Grand Prix, Verstappen added: "In 2019, I got invited to spend two days with the FIA and a bit of time with the stewards.

"Sometimes for them, it's hard to make decisions and they have to follow the rules. It's good you can at least talk about it.

"As a driver, when I look at myself, I look at every single year and what I can do better, and I think everyone should be like that, to say 'What can we do better?'"

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