Max Verstappen says fans should try driving an Formula One car before voicing their opinion about the controversial kerbs at the Red Bull Ring.
There have been four rear suspension failures during the weekend, one of which was for Verstappen on Friday, caused by drivers going over the kerbs on the edge of the circuit. Opinion is split on the issue, with Lewis Hamilton suggesting the kerbs were dangerous, but Verstappen's own teammate Daniel Ricciardo saying drivers were simply being punished for evading the limits of the track.
When told fans on social media were saying drivers should just stay off the kerbs, Verstappen said: "Easier said than done. Maybe we can exchange, let them drive the car and see what they think about it.
"I think it's dangerous at Turn 8. Of course at Turn 5 and 6 you don't hit them so easy but it's a similar approach. You can see on the camera when you hit the yellow kerb the vibrations on the suspension."
Verstappen had less support for his anti-kerb stance after Friday practice but his initial fears now seem to have been vindicated following heavy crashes for Nico Rosberg and Daniil Kvyat, as well as another failure for Sergio Perez.
Asked if his comments were now justified, he said: "I think so. I think you could clearly see what happened today and I experienced it yesterday so."
"All the drivers were very happy with the kerbs [after Friday], so maybe now they are not so happy some of them."