Four-time Formula 1 world champion, Max Verstappen, has sat at the forefront of several on-track altercations since making his debut in 2016.
Now a veteran of the sport, the Dutchman remains as hot-headed and fervorous as ever - with controversy seemingly following him wherever he goes.
From innocent disputes to allegedly deliberate collisions, we examine the most divisive moments involving Red Bull's star driver.
5. Brazen in Barcelona - 2025 Spanish Grand Prix
As outlined in candid betting advice from Jennie Gow of BBC on FIRST.com, Max Verstappen tends to lose his cool when things don't quite go as he had envisioned.
The 2025 Spanish Grand presented a clear example of the 27-year-old's propensity for drama - as, after being told to return a position to George Russell in the wake of a potentially illegal manoeuver, Verstappen bundled his car into the Englishman's Mercedes.
An investigation by FIA stewards deemed that the reigning world champion made deliberate contact with Russell, culminating in a 10-second time penalty and three penalty points on his license.
4. Monza madness - 2021 Italian Grand Prix
In September 2021, the grid ventured to Monza for the annual Italian Grand Prix - with tensions between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen already high following previous clashes.
On lap 26, Hamilton exited the pit lane after swapping his hard tyres for fresh mediums. Verstappen, in P8 following a slow pit-stop, coincidentally converged with the seven-time driver's champion as the pair approached turn one.
Red Bull's then-23-year-old Dutch driver attempted to overtake his 36-year-old counterpart around the outside of a notoriously tight bend.
Verstappen's RB16B clipped a sausage kerb while making a sharp left turn - throwing his car over the top of Hamilton's.
Despite the Red Bull landing on his rival car's halo, neither driver came away with serious injuries. The FIA later hit Verstappen with a three-place grid penalty for the next race.
3. Rear-ended by teammate Ricciardo - 2018 Azerbaijan Grand Prix
In 2018, Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen battled to earn a spot as Red Bull's leading driver.
This in-house rivalry came to a head during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix - when the Australian sought to snatch fourth position from his young team-mate.
Approaching turn one at tremendous speed, Ricciardo first moved to the right-hand side in an effort to round Verstappen from the outside. However, Max quickly shifted his vehicle in a defensive stance.
Then, Ricciardo switched to the left. Verstappen, still ahead, followed suit.
Ricciardo, with little room to avoid his Red Bull compatriot, crashed into the rear of Verstappen's car at the braking point for the first turn.
While primarily controversial for such a public display of in-team conflict, this collision also saw Verstappen under fire for moving twice under braking. According to Formula 1 rules, drivers are only allowed to make one defensive move per turn.
Both drivers were reprimanded by the stewards - but many herald this coming together as a turning point for their relationship as colleagues.
2. Hitting the brakes on Hamilton - 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
With adrenaline-infused speed, windy corners and DRS straights practically converging at the end and start of the lap, the all-new Saudi Arabian Grand Prix promised to provide major fireworks.
Needless to say, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen delivered.
Verstappen controversially maintained first place over Hamilton after cutting the opening corner on the 36th lap. Red Bull ordered the title-hopeful to give his position to the British opponent "strategically" - but nobody had told Hamilton.
Therefore, Lewis remained behind Verstappen in a bid to obtain a DRS advantage through the track's first straight. Frustrated that he could not give back the position in a "strategic" manner, Verstappen slammed on his brakes.
Hamilton's front wing clipped the Red Bull, causing immediate damage. Nevertheless, the Brit later overtook his championship challenger to gain 25 precious points.
1. Title-clinching safety car - 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
No list of Max Verstappen's most controversial moments is complete without the infamous 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Although he was not at fault for the drama surrounding this result - Verstappen remained a key beneficiary of the decision by former race director, Michael Masi, to only allow backmarkers positioned between Lewis Hamilton and the Red Bull driver to overtake the safety car.
This paved the way for Verstappen - who decided to pit for soft tyres under the safety car - to sail past his championship adversary on the final lap and clinch a first driver's championship.
Understandably bewildered and frustrated, Hamilton claimed that the result had been "manipulated" in Verstappen's favour.
Only Masi knows whether that statement is true. Regardless, this is the most contentious event involving Verstappen thus far...and by some distance.
Author: Conor Rafter
