Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen was at the centre of plenty of controversy during the Mexico City Grand Prix. Verstappen and Lando Norris have been battling all season with the Red Bull star currently holding all of the cards in the Drivers’ Championship. The Dutch driver now holds a 47-point advantage with just four race weekends remaining, although that lead could be smaller were it not for some interesting choices the 27-year-old made during the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Red Bull now have the third-fastest car on the grid with McLaren and Ferrari set to battle it out for the Constructors’ Championship. Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty ImagesThat means Verstappen needs to drive out of his skin to avoid losing too many points to Norris while also using a few suspect tactics. READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Red Bull Racing from engine to Ford linksVerstappen picked up a pair of 10-second penalties in the space of four corners, as well as two penalty points on his license, for his actions on lap 10 of the race.
He forced Norris wide, not once but twice, and Verstappen’s move on turn seven was described as ‘ridiculous’ by Martin Brundle. Damon Hill has now spoken on the Sky Sports F1 Podcast about Verstappen’s showing at the Autodromo Hermons Rodriguez. It’s safe to say he wasn’t happy with the Dutchman but also pointed out his exceptional talent in reaching the position he’s in this season in the Drivers’ Championship.
Why Damon Hill thinks Max Verstappen ‘let himself down’ at the Mexican Grand PrixTalking about Verstappen’s most recent penalties, Hill said: “The problem that Max is that he simply refuses to concede any turf at all to anyone in an overtake. “You know that’s the situation, the question is what’s within the regulations and the regulations are a little bit murky, they’re not terribly clear. “I think this is the thing that’s frustrating for everyone because we look at that and think well really that shouldn’t be allowed.
”Hill then explained the role the driver stewards play in deciding penalties before returning to Verstappen’s moves and continued: “I think it’s a big can of worms. READ MORE: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend“I think he was right to get a penalty, whether 10 seconds was the right penalty, I don’t know. “I definitely think the second move he did was just daft, I mean it was Dick Dastardly stuff.
“He simply accelerated to the apex and in some sense prevented Lando – which it looked like to me Lando was giving him the opportunity to take the place back – and then he just accelerated through and drove Lando off the track. “And Lando really didn’t have much option and they actually did touch. “But that was silly driving, I mean, Max, he let himself down there I think.
“He’s got such brilliance and clearly a massive competitive spirit but I don’t think that was something to be proud of what he did there. ”Why Damon Hill is ‘losing respect’ for Max Verstappen after the Mexico City Grand PrixHill admitted immediately after the race that he was losing respect for Verstappen as he doesn’t believe he needs to use the tactics he does in battles with other drivers to succeed. The 27-year-old is one of the fastest drivers to ever race in Formula 1 and that talent alone should be enough.
However, Verstappen knows that with his points advantage in the championship, he can afford to lose out occasionally if it scuppers Norris’s race as well. Once he overtook Norris, he slowed him down enough to allow the Ferrari drivers to race off into the distance despite knowing he had a 20-second penalty waiting for him when he took his pit stop. Charles Leclerc’s late mistake handed Norris second place – although he was fast enough to overtake the Monegasque driver normally if required – but he couldn’t get close enough to Carlos Sainz.
If Verstappen wins the championship by less than seven points, that moment might be one he looks back on as being vital to lifting yet another trophy aloft.
