Formula One champion Max Verstappen has played down talk of a rift with race stewards, despite picking up seven penalty points en route to his maiden world championship. Verstappen found himself in the wars on multiple occasions – more often than not with Mercedes title rival Lewis Hamilton – and stewards took a dim view of his all-out attack style during the 2021 campaign. But with the dust settled on 2021 from Verstappen’s side at least – Mercedes remain bemused at the role played by race director Michael Masi in the final race in Abu Dhabi – the Dutchman has stressed all is well between him and the stewards. The 24-year-old will be well aware that a driver can only collect 12 penalty points in any 12-month period before a race ban becomes active. Verstappen has made peace with the stewards but it is race director Masi that continues to be the talking point of the paddock.

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