Verstappen wants 'keyboard warriors' to just stick to the facts

Following the criticism he endured in the early part of 2018, Max Verstappen wants everyone to "just stick to the facts" in the future.

After a series of incidents and mishaps undermined the start of his season, the Dutchman's driving was called into question, as was his ability to discipline himself and learn from his mistakes.

In Montreal, during the FIA drivers' press conference, the 21-year-old threatened to "headbutt someone" if the media continued to query him on his mishaps.

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The Red Bull driver eventually put his head down and harnessed the pressure, achieving a podium finish in Canada before winning in Austria and consistently outpacing his team mate Daniel Ricciardo thereafter.

"I was just done with it," Verstappen remembered, speaking to De Telegraaf.

"It seemed like I lost my ability to drive. These days, people on social media give their opinions so easily, while they don't know the person at all.

"And often they're scared to tell you in your face. Keyboard warriors, that's what I call them. That's the way it is."

The fact that everyone and their dog appeared to have an opinion on his driving really annoyed the five-time Grand Prix winner.

"I can give my opinion on football, but I don't know anything about that either," he said.

"Sometimes I think I do, when I'm watching television. But who cares what I think about football?

"The manager isn't going to think: 'Max said this, so I have to change things now'.

"That's what I feel with people who just say things about F1. I just think: most of them don't know anything about it, just stick to the facts."

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