JUNE 5, 2015

No medical check necessary for Verstappen

FIA doctors did not check Max Verstappen's fitness ahead of the Canadian grand prix.

FIA doctors did not check Max Verstappen's fitness ahead of the Canadian grand prix.

Earlier reports suggested that due to the severity of the teenager's Monaco shunt, he would need clearance from the governing body to race this weekend.

But the young Dutchman was obviously unhurt, driving karts and demonstrating Formula Renault 3.5 and F1 cars for backer Red Bull last week.

A spokesman for the FIA said: "The doctors in Monte Carlo found that Verstappen was fine.

"Therefore, it was decided there would be no new investigation here," he was quoted by Speed Week in Canada.

Much more dramatic on Thursday was some of the criticism being fired at Verstappen by his fellow drivers.

Romain Grosjean, for one, revealed he expected an apology from the 17-year-old, who crashed after slamming into the rear of the Frenchman's Lotus.

It follows Verstappen's post-race declaration that he was "brake-tested" by Grosjean.

"Even this morning in the press conference he was saying 'I'm going to drive the same way'," Grosjean said on Thursday.

"We went to the stewards after the grand prix and he could have said 'I'm sorry' but he did not," he is quoted by RMC Sport.

"As I said, he is very talented," said Grosjean, "but it would not cost anything to tell me 'I'm sorry, I braked too late'."

Jenson Button, the most experienced active driver in F1, also rebuked Verstappen for the accusation.

"To point the finger at someone and say they brake-tested you, that's serious," said the 2009 world champion.

There was also a fiery exchange between the youngster and Felipe Massa in the FIA press conference, following 34-year-old Massa's criticism of Verstappen.

"Well, everybody can have their opinion, that's the first thing," said Verstappen.

"I'm focusing on Canada right now and maybe you (Massa) should review the race from last year and see what happened there," he charged.

Verstappen was undoubtedly referring to Massa's huge Montreal crash in 2014, when he hit the rear of Sergio Perez.

"I think it was a little bit different, no?" Massa hit back. "I was on the side and he (Perez) moved the car on braking so ... I don't think Grosjean moved the car on braking, no?"

(GMM)