SPIELBERG, Austria -- Red Bull has sided with Max Verstappen after its two drivers squabbled over track position during qualifying at the Austrian Grand Prix.
The internal dispute played out over the team's pit-to-car radio on Saturday afternoon as both drivers tried to position themselves behind the other in order to gain a slipstream advantage on their Q3 qualifying laps.
In order to avoid such arguments, the team has a rule in place that alternates which driver leaves the garage first from race to race. In Austria it was Ricciardo's turn to go out first -- thereby giving the slipstream advantage to Verstappen -- but he felt the roles should have been reversed on at least one of his three qualifying attempts in Q3 in order to give him a fair shot at beating his teammate.