Ex-F1 champion pinpoints the ‘problem’ with Max Verstappen after Mexican GP fallout

Damon Hill explained the 'problem' Max Verstappen has after the Red Bull driver was hit with penalties at the Mexican GP.

Ex-F1 champion pinpoints the ‘problem’ with Max Verstappen after Mexican GP fallout

Max Verstappen (via IMAGO)

Max Verstappen is facing heavy criticism for his aggressive racing style during the Mexican GP while defending his position against Lando Norris. Norris described Verstappen’s driving as “dangerous,” noting that he nearly caused a crash.

Former F1 champion Damon Hill has pointed out key issues with Verstappen’s performance. He emphasized that the reigning world champion’s aggressive approach could lead to significant problems on the track.

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Max Verstappen is trying to maintain his championship lead as he faces challenges with his RB20, which cannot secure victories anymore. This has led him to adopt a more aggressive approach, especially when battling his title rival Lando Norris.

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Damon Hill noted that this was the second tense moment between Verstappen and Norris in just a week, following their clash in Austin. Ultimately, Hill pointed out that the Dutchman struggles to give up any ground during overtakes and this is a key issue in his racing strategy.

The problem that Max has is he simply refuses to concede any turf at all, to anyone, in an overtake. So that’s the situation. The aerial footage is very clear to me, he made no attempt to back off and make the corner and leave room for Lando. It was just simply a case of: ‘You’re not coming through.

Damon Hill said, as reported by Sky F1 podcast

The incident took place on Turn 4 of the AHR circuit and earned Verstappen a 10-second penalty for pushing the Brit. However, the other penalty was to go beyond track and gain an unfair advantage over Norris.

Damon Hill doubts Max Verstappen’s capabilities to race fairly after aggressive duel

The battle between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris wasn’t the only exciting moment in Mexico. The race also featured intense wheel-to-wheel action, including duels between George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.

Damon Hill [L] Max Verstappen [R]
Damon Hill [L] Max Verstappen [R] (Via Imago)

The Mercedes teammates put on a thrilling show, pushing their limits and showcasing their skills. Despite some close calls and aggressive moves, their battle was seen as fair especially compared to Verstappen and Norris’s clash.

Reflecting on this, Damon Hill noted that while fair racing is possible, it’s not part of the 27-year-old’s philosophy. He doubts it is out of his capability to race fairly as the Dutchman doesn’t want anyone to pass him.

The same with Lewis and George Russell, so it is possible to race fairly and that is something I’m not sure that Max is capable of – it’s not in his repertoire. It’s not in his philosophy. His philosophy is that ‘You’re not coming past.

Damon Hill expressed

Verstappen’s aggressive driving style reflects his position in the championship, which he currently leads by 47 points with only four races left. In the upcoming Brazilian GP, he will have a new engine to boost his speed, but it comes with a five-place grid penalty that could complicate his race strategy.