Livid Verstappen says stewards decisions 'kill sport'

Austin: Max Verstappen claimed Formula1's stewards were killing the sport after he was demoted from a podium finish in Sunday's US Grand Prix for driving off the track to pass Kimi Raikkonen. The 20-year-old Dutchman, who on Friday announced he had signed a new contract to stay with Red Bull until 2020, was livid as he branded one steward an "idiot". His Red Bull team chief Christian Horner was also angry and pointed out that Verstappen's bold final corner overtake on the last lap of the race was a thrilling example of the best of F1 racing, but that the decision would leave the American audience baffled. Verstappen, the hottest young driver, had roared from 16th on the grid to cross the line in third at the Circuit of the Americas with his dramatic last-gasp pass of Raikkonen, the 38-year-old Ferrari driver from Finland.