In a dramatic turn of events, a former Formula 1 steward, who was recently dismissed, has come forward to respond to accusations made by Max Verstappen and his father, Jos Verstappen. The steward, who was involved in the controversial decision during a recent F1 race, has labeled the accusations against him as “ridiculous,” and has fired back with a series of pointed remarks.

The dispute began after a contentious incident in a race, where Max Verstappen’s driving was called into question. The Verstappen family did not hold back, with both Max and his father Jos publicly criticizing the steward’s decision, claiming that it was unfair and lacked proper reasoning. The younger Verstappen even suggested that the steward had a bias against him, which led to the controversial penalty.

However, the sacked steward, who wished to remain anonymous, responded with a fiery defense. “I’m shocked by the accusations, especially considering how ‘ridiculous’ they are. It’s not easy being in the position I was in, making decisions under intense pressure, but I always did so with integrity and fairness,” the former steward stated.

The steward went on to explain that he felt his professionalism was unfairly questioned and that the backlash he received was disproportionate. “This isn’t about personal feelings or favoritism. The decisions I made were based on the rules and the situations as I saw them. To accuse me of bias is insulting,” he added.

Max Verstappen, known for his fiery temperament, did not take kindly to the steward’s response. In a surprising twist, the Dutch driver fired back on social media. “I stand by what I said. If someone is going to make decisions that affect our race and career, they should at least have the decency to own their decisions and not hide behind baseless accusations. It’s clear that some people just don’t like seeing me at the top,” Verstappen wrote, expressing his frustration.

The back-and-forth between the sacked steward and the Verstappen family has stirred up the F1 community, with fans and pundits taking sides. Some defend Verstappen, believing that he has the right to stand up against what he sees as unjust decisions, while others side with the steward, arguing that race stewards should be allowed to make tough calls without fear of personal attacks.

Despite the public feud, the FIA, the governing body of Formula 1, has remained silent on the matter. Experts within the sport have also called for a more transparent process regarding steward decisions, especially in light of the heightened tensions and media attention this incident has generated.

As the controversy continues to unfold, it is clear that the relationship between Max Verstappen, his family, and the F1 officials will remain strained. The incident has not only brought attention to the complexities of race officiating but also highlighted the passionate and often combative nature of Formula 1 racing itself.

Both sides have made their positions clear, but it remains to be seen whether this dispute will have any lasting impact on Verstappen’s future in the sport, or if the FIA will take any action to address the concerns raised by the disgruntled former steward. In the meantime, the F1 world watches closely, awaiting the next chapter in this high-stakes drama.