Title rivals Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton clashed in second practice at the US Grand Prix as Red Bull’s Sergio Perez emerged with the fastest time. Verstappen called Hamilton a “stupid idiot” over the team radio after an incident in which the two raced side by side down the pit straight. Verstappen then gave Hamilton a middle-finger salute as they accelerated out of the corner. Verstappen was told to “ignore it” by his race engineer Giampiero Lambiase. Hamilton was third, his best lap deleted, while Verstappen was eighth. Hamilton set the fastest time of the session but had it ruled out for marginally exceeding track limits at the final corner. The incident between Hamilton and Verstappen happened when Hamilton passed the Red Bull going into the final corner. The two then raced side by side down the pit straight, almost touching wheels, and into the first corner, before Hamilton claimed track position.

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