Verstappen frustrated as radio problems return in Austin

After the United States Grand Prix, Max Verstappen said he had repeatedly struggled to hear race engineer Tom Hart, making it difficult to discuss important matters during the race. He described the recurring radio problems as enormously frustrating.

When it was suggested that this was the second time the problem had occurred, Verstappen said it was not; he did not even know how often it had happened this year. He sarcastically proposed communicating by sign language instead, adding that it would probably be cheaper.

The same communication trouble had already disrupted Verstappen's Singapore weekend. He missed much of first practice there because the pit wall could not hear his replies, although he could hear Gianpiero Lambiase. During the race, Lambiase switched to a simple yes-or-no system: Verstappen pressed a button to answer yes and left it untouched to answer no.

Teammate Isack Hadjar also had radio problems during the Austin race. He said it was the first time he had experienced them this year, and that he heard only a 'box box' instruction before nearly coming into the pits at the wrong moment.