Verstappen slams 'idiot' stewards

Max Verstappen claimed Formula One's stewards were killing the sport after the Red Bull driver 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".

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.