Niki Lauda says Max Verstappen drove "too aggressively" at the start of the Mexican Grand Prix and could have cost Nico Rosberg the title.
Verstappen and championship leader Rosberg banged wheels going into Turn 1, forcing the German to miss Turn 2 completely. He rejoined in second and was spared a penalty for gaining an advantage, though he feared the damage could have led to a retirement.
Lauda thinks Verstappen needs to be told to calm down.
"Nico was clearly in front," Lauda said after the race. "And Verstappen then rams him off the track. This could have cost Nico the championship. It is not acceptable.
"It's Verstappen's fault. He drives too aggressively. At some point, he has to realise it."
Verstappen was centre of the controversy which unfolded late in the race. Having run wide himself in exactly the same manner to Rosberg while defending third position from Sebastian Vettel, Verstappen refused to give up the position -- later reasoning he should not have been penalised when Rosberg was not.
An incensed Vettel launched into an angry tirade on the radio before colliding with Daniel Ricciardo, with the stewards later deciding the German had moved under braking to defend position.
In an odd finish, Verstappen crossed the line in third, only to be demoted to fifth while he was waiting to take his place on the podium. That elevated Vettel to third, and the German driver celebrated on the podium despite still being under investigation for the Ricciardo moment. The German was then hit with a post-race time penalty of his own and dropped to fifth, meaning Ricciardo inherited third place.