“You can’t be the weak link,” Damon Hill defends Max Verstappen calling George Russell a ‘di**head’ after their Baku Sprint clash

Damon Hill supports Max Verstappen, labelling George Russell a 'di*****d' following their clash in the first lap of the Baku race.

“You can’t be the weak link,” Damon Hill defends Max Verstappen calling George Russell a ‘di**head’ after their Baku Sprint clash

Damon Hill and Max Verstappen

The first-ever sprint race of the 2023 Formula One season got off to a thrilling start, with Max Verstappen and George Russell battling for position early on. However, the excitement soon turned to controversy as Russell collided with Verstappen, causing damage to the Dutchman’s side pods. After the race, Verstappen called Russell a “di**head” on live TV, leading to a backlash from some pundits and fans. However, former world champion Damon Hill has defended Verstappen’s actions.

Hill believes that in the heat of the moment, tensions can run high, and drivers need to show that they are not to be messed with. “You can’t be the weak link, and you can’t be the guy that can be rolled over,” Damon Hill said. “So they do puff their chests out from time to time, and you get those confrontations.” Hill added, while words can be hurtful, sometimes they are just “playground stuff.”

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The clash between Max Verstappen and George Russell took place at turn two, with Russell bumping into the side of Verstappen’s car. The incident resulted in a significant hole in Verstappen’s sidepod, which had a profound impact on the rest of his race. Despite the damage, Verstappen was able to regain his third-place position following a safety car restart. 

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Damon Hill believes the duo’s ‘young blood’ is to be blamed for their altercation

George Russell and Max Verstappen in a hot exchange after Baku sprint
George Russell and Max Verstappen in a hot exchange after the Baku sprint (Credits; Planet F1)

Hill recognizes that Verstappen and Russell are both young drivers aged 25 and have been fighting in competitions for much of their lives. “They’re young lads,” Hill said. “They make it known that they’re not to be messed with,”. While acknowledging that some of their behavior can be impetuous, Hill believes this is part of being a young driver in a highly competitive environment.

The defending champion could not challenge Charles Leclerc for second place due to the loss of downforce caused by the damage to his car. At the same time, his teammate had an easy pass on the Ferrari driver and clawed into Max’s championship lead. The Dutchman is now only 6 points ahead of his teammate. 

Despite the controversy surrounding Verstappen’s comments, Hill believes that the Dutchman’s actions were understandable given the circumstances. Hill referenced the late Ayrton Senna’s famous words about racing drivers, stating that those who do not go for the gap cannot be considered true racers. In Hill’s view, Verstappen was simply defending his position and showing that he should not be intimidated on the track.

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