F1 News
Hill explains the "problem" with Verstappen's driving: "Let himself down"
Damon Hill believes that Max Verstappen "let himself down" after some "silly driving" at the Mexican Grand Prix. Although Carlos Sainz took victory and gave Ferrari back-to-back wins for the first time in 2024, the biggest talking point was the incidents between Verstappen and drivers' title rival Lando Norris which resulted in the Dutchman being given two 10-second time penalties for forcing the Brit off the track.
Last weekend at the United States Grand Prix, a similar incident played out as Verstappen was defending from a charging Norris on fresher tyres. As Norris looked to make a move around the outside, Verstappen got to the apex of the corner first and made sure there was no room for the Brit to overtake on track, meaning he gained an advantage off the track by making he overtake, resulting in a five-second penalty.
However, a week later in Mexico City, it was Verstappen in the wrong in the eyes of the stewards. In their first incident, this time around, Norris looked to have gotten to the apex first, but Verstappen still pushed the McLaren off the track, resulting in a 10-second time penalty. Just three corners later, Norris looked to be letting the Dutchman back through after overtaking off the track, but the Dutchman barreled up the inside aggressively, missing the corner entirely, and once again, forced Norris off the track. And again, another 10-second penalty game his way.
Verstappen's driving was "just daft" according to Hill
Speaking on the Sky Sports F1 podcast, the 1996 world champion Hill expressed his thoughts on Verstappen's driving in Mexico: "I think, especially the second move that he did, that was just daft. It looked like Lando was giving him the opportunity to take the place back, but he just simply accelerated to the apex, drove through and drove Lando off the track, and he didn't have any option. That was just silly driving, and Max let himself down there."
The former F1 driver continued on, saying, "The problem that Max has is that he simply refuses to concede any turf at all to anyone in an overtake. He's obviously got such brilliance and clearly a massive competitive spirit, but I don't think that was something to be proud of."
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