The US GP saw Max Verstappen and Lando Norris clash in a fierce battle for third place, sparking controversy. Both drivers pushed each other to the limit, turning the race into a heated showdown. Many pundits, drivers, and teams shared their opinions on the matter and Lewis Hamilton was one of them.

During the race’s second half, Norris closed the gap on Verstappen, leading to a multi-lap duel. On lap 52, he overtook the Dutchman off-track, but he maintained his position at the apex, prompting stewards to intervene. Lando Norris received a five-second time penalty and couldn’t make up the time, ultimately allowing Verstappen to secure third place as the race ended.

Lewis Hamilton expressed that he has similarly experienced this in his battles with the 27-year-old. Hamilton criticized Max Verstappen‘s tactic of diving inside to take the lead and then going off-track while still keeping his position. He stressed that better rules are necessary to promote fair racing.

I experienced it many times with Max, you shouldn’t be able to just launch the car on the inside and be ahead and then you go off and still hold your position. So, they need to definitely work on this. Lewis Hamilton told Motorsportweek.

comHamilton highlighted that the rules in Formula 1 can sometimes be unclear, creating confusion about what is allowed. He noted that these grey areas have always existed, which is why Verstappen has been able to use certain tactics for so long. The incident involving him and Norris was a double-edged sword, with some believing both drivers should have been penalized.

Ex-F1 champion Jenson Button also stressed the importance of altering the ruling system to prevent such incidents. Currently, both are favorites for the top spot in the drivers’ standings, but the Briton still sits 57 points behind. It’s always been a grey area that’s why [Verstappen’s] got away with it for so long.

They probably need to make some adjustments [to the rules] for sure. Also, we do have inconsistencies through rulings, weekend in, weekend out. Lewis Hamilton statedRELATEDOscar Piastri’ manager reportedly seeking ‘intensive conversations’ with Red Bull amidst Sergio Perez’ strugglesLewis Hamilton claims F1 needs to ‘level up’ in rules and regulations Lewis Hamilton advocates for improvements in Formula 1, particularly in refereeing.

He points out that other global sports employ full-time referees, such as in football, which helps ensure consistent and fair rulings during competitions. Lewis Hamilton (via IMAGO)By suggesting that F1 should adopt a similar approach, Hamilton believes it could enhance the sport’s integrity and professionalism. This would ultimately lead to better decision-making and a more level playing field for all drivers.

As a sport, we do need to level up on all areas and if you look at other global sports, they have full-time refs, for example, and I’m sure that wouldn’t be a bad thing for our sport. Lewis Hamilton saidRELATEDGeorge Russell optimistic about racing in his 40′ taking inspiration from Fernando Alonso’ ‘warrior’ mentality in F1The 2024 F1 season moves to its 20th race in Mexico, bringing increased competition that adds excitement. Ferrari has shown strong signs of competing for the title, with both its drivers performing at an extremely high level.

The battle between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris continues as the Briton pursues his first world championship while Verstappen defends his to become a four-time world champion.