'Stupid idiot!': Max Verstappen blasts Lewis Hamilton - hours after claiming pair had buried hatchet

Max Verstappen labelled title rival Lewis Hamilton a “stupid idiot” on Friday, flicking the Mercedes man the middle finger as the two drivers went wheel-to-wheel in practice for tomorrow’s United States Grand Prix.

Verstappen, who leads the drivers’ championship by just six points from Hamilton with six races remaining, had insisted just hours earlier that they had buried the hatchet following a series of high-profile clashes this season.

"We all have those times where we have low moments with someone, but we are human beings," Verstappen had said. "We move on, and we forgive."

The 23-year-old could not disguise his irritation, however, after an incident in FP2 which saw the two drivers race side by side down the pit straight in the middle of the session.

"Stupid idiot," Verstappen fumed over the radio, extending his middle finger in Hamilton’s direction. "Just ignore it," replied his race engineer Giampiero Lambiase.

Verstappen was seemingly unable to let go of his irritation, swearing repeatedly over the radio later in the session as he found himself held up in traffic.

The Dutchman’s emotional response may be a sign that the pressure of one of the most exciting title races in years is getting to him.

The Red Bull driver had earlier denied that was the case, repeating his claim that winning the championship would not change his life so there was little point getting too worked up about it., and adding that his relationship with Hamilton was far less fiery than people might think.