With Max Verstappen one of the three drivers picked for today's official press conference it was inevitable that last weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix, and certain comments made in the aftermath, would be on the agenda.

However, despite the best efforts of the British media the youngster refused to rise to the bait.

Asked how he reflects on the incident and whether he has seen it on TV, he smiled and replied: "I was in the car... so I felt it, I saw it!

"That's racing," he continued, "sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. You can say whatever you like about the incident, I think I had a fair shot at it, it was nothing crazy, nothing risky, but unfortunately this time it didn't work out.

"Looking back to Mexico last year, it did work out, but this time maybe we didn't give each other not enough space but that's racing at the end of the day, and like I said, sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad.

Asked if he has spoken to Hamilton since the incident, he said: "No."

Asked if he might now take a more conservative approach, he replied: "It's always important to score points and that's always the target. We are here to finish on the podium, to win races, that's why we're here, that's what we'll try to do again this weekend, So for me there won't be a change."

Despite having seemingly cleared up the matter, he was again asked about Lewis Hamilton's post-race comment and whether he will talk to the Briton about it.

"I might have a talk with him, it depends, if it's really necessary," said the Dutchman.

Similarly, he was again asked about changing his style, he said: "Why should I change something, I don't think I did anything wrong in terms of my approach, I was just trying to overtake a car. It was a fair chance and I went for it... for example, last year in Mexico it could have gone wrong as well, maybe for me, maybe for another car, it's racing, it's very simple. I don't understand why everybody is so on top of the topic because those things happen in racing.

Determined to provoke a reaction, yet again, a British tabloid journalist, raised Hamilton's post-race comments, asking the Red Bull driver why he thought the Briton was moved to criticise him.

"Because it's quite easy, simple, to blame the younger driver,” said Max. “That's the only way I can see it, like I said, these things happen, there's no reason for me to change anything."

Finally, asked about the RB14's competitiveness, he said: "The car is very quick, especially in the race. We know in qualifying we are losing out a bit, just from pure performance in terms of top speed but as soon as that all calms down a bit in the race I think... I was very confident, for example, before the start of the race to still move up a lot of positions because the car was definitely capable of it. We have a good package and there are a lot of promising things coming, so, yeh, ready to go.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by george, 12/04/2018 13:29

"" will not change my style ". Verstappen has no style, and certainly no class. Hamilton has style, but not class. The last classy driver around is Alonso. Until last season we also had Massa, before that Barrichello and Webber. Now you have a lot of spoiled brads playing with daddy-s toys or " fils a papa " like Verstappen.
Let-s be real here. There are 20 cars. 4 of them can win, 2 have an outside chance, the Red Bulls. Verstappen is a go-cart driver, never outgrown it and just has been put in a very good car. Put Alonso in the Red Bull and the Mercedes and Ferrari guys have a fight for the championship. Much the lesser car, much the superior driver. And I am not an Alonso fan. I just recognize a real champion. "

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2. Posted by Editor, 12/04/2018 8:23

"@ nonickname

Indeed, just look around at some of the headlines built around exactly the same quote as we used... all playing up Max's comment about it being easy to criticise young drivers... and adding in Lewis' name in a bid to stir things up."

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3. Posted by FormerF1Fan, 12/04/2018 8:22

"nonickname, you hit the nail square on the head. These "journalists", probably through their lack of knowledge and/or real ability, go for controversy every time, and even if it doesn't exist they attempt to fabricate it, condescendingly thinking that this is what F1 followers want, and so anything remotely substantional in our modern world including F1 seems to have been reduced to spoon-fed gossipy pulp."

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4. Posted by nonickname, 12/04/2018 8:02

"One of the really sad things about F1 is the incessant stupid questions asked by the barely qualified press. All they want is a bit of controversy, to miss quote in their papers as click bait.
I think that the drivers should actually put them down with a simple 'no answer' or 'I have answered that already'
Not one of them have any racing history."

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Verstappen has no plan to change his style

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