Abu Dhabi GP: Max Verstappen defends kerbing in practice

Dutchman, who ran wide over kerning on exit of Turn 20 on Friday, does not think it is a bad thing to do 'because you start playing with limits'

An extra bit of kerbing has been added to the section of Yas Marina track this year in an attempt to avoid drivers running wide and having no deterrent for doing so. Getty Images

Max Verstappen has defended the kerbing on one of the corners at Yas Marina Circuit that caused minor damage to his Red Bull Racing car during practice ahead of the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The Dutchman ran wide over the kerbing on the exit of Turn 20 on the 21-corner track during Friday's second practice session and suffered minor damage to his floorboard.

An extra bit of kerbing has been added to the section of track this year in an attempt to avoid drivers running wide and having no deterrent for doing so.

Verstappen said: "I understand why it is there, and honestly, I think it is not so bad because otherwise you start playing with the limits. I went a little bit over it.

"Last year you could lean on it a little bit. Now it is a bit higher. I don't expect it to be a big problem in the race."

Verstappen was not the only one to suffer problems with the kerb. Both world champion Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen ran over it during Saturday's final practice session, though appeared to escape without harming their respective cars.

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