ABU DHABI — Purple Bull has admitted it made “some errors” in the best way it handled its staff orders controversy on the Brazilian Grand Prix.

After overtaking teammate Sergio Perez for sixth place following a late security automotive at Interlagos, Max Verstappen was informed to provide the place again on the ultimate lap to assist increase Perez’s factors tally in his battle for second place within the drivers’ championship.

Verstappen refused the order and held on to sixth place, later telling the staff on the radio, “I informed you already final time. Do not ask that once more to me — are we clear about that? I gave my causes and I stand by it.”

When requested after the race, Verstappen refused to provide his causes for ignoring the order, however Dutch media reported it was linked to a perception held by Verstappen that Perez crashed on objective in qualifying on the Monaco Grand Prix to ensure he began forward of him.

In a press release forward of this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix, Purple Bull mentioned Verstappen serving to Perez had not been mentioned earlier than the race and that it accepted Verstappen’s causes for ignoring the order — albeit with out confirming what they have been.

“As a staff we made some errors in Brazil,” the Purple Bull assertion mentioned. “We had not envisaged the scenario that unfolded on the final lap and we had not agreed a technique for such a situation earlier than the race.

“Regretfully, Max was solely knowledgeable on the remaining nook of the request to surrender place with out all the required info being relayed. This put Max, who has all the time been an open and truthful staff participant, in a compromising scenario with little time to react which was not our intention.

“Following the race Max spoke overtly and actually, permitting for each drivers to resolve any excellent points or considerations. The staff settle for Max’s reasoning, the dialog was a private matter which can stay non-public between the staff and no additional remark will probably be made.”

Purple Bull additionally used its assertion to sentence the abuse the staff and its drivers have obtained on social media because the incident.

“The occasions that adopted from a social media viewpoint are fully unacceptable. The abusive on-line behaviour in the direction of Max, Checo, the staff and their respective households is surprising and saddening and sadly is one thing that we as a sport are having to handle with miserable regularity.

“There is no such thing as a place for it in racing or society as an entire and we have to do and be higher. On the finish of the day it is a sport, we’re right here to race. Dying threats, hate mail, vitriol in the direction of prolonged relations is deplorable. We worth inclusion and need a secure area for everybody to work in and revel in our sport. The abuse must cease.”