Hill calls for Red Bull intervention over Verstappen F1 tactics

1996 F1 world champion Damon Hill has called on Red Bull to intervene on Max Verstappen’s driving standards.

The Dutchman was handed two 10-second time penalties for incidents with title rival Lando Norris during the Mexico City Grand Prix last weekend.

The punishments allowed Norris to close in on Verstappen in the drivers’ championship with the gap now sitting at 47 points with four rounds remaining.

Hill asserted he can understand Red Bull’s public defence of Verstappen – but stated talks need to be had behind closed doors. 

“There’s never any attempt to publicly describe his driver in a way that other people would recognise it,” said Hill on the Sky Sports F1 Podcast.

“It is always a protective comment from Christian [Horner] about Max. It almost appears as though Max is free to do whatever he likes.

“His team will never criticise the way he drives. And I think if you’re in a competition, that’s probably fine to do that publicly.

“But really, at some point, there has to be a conversation. It’s the responsibility of the team to also contribute to the driver’s attitude.”

Hill warns F1 can’t be ‘dodgems race’

Verstappen has long held a reputation as one of the fiercest competitors on the track, with his spat with Norris coming just one week after another on-track controversy with the McLaren driver in the USA.

Hill called on Verstappen to use his “skill” to defeat opponents in wheel-to-wheel combat rather than resorting to running them off the track.

“That’s where the FIA or the sporting authorities have to step in. They have to be able say, ‘OK, we want competition and see that fieriness, but it has to be controlled.’

“It can’t just be a demolition derby just to keep your place, or deny everyone getting a place just because you don’t want to be overtaken, so there needs to be a way of disciplining the driver.

“I think Max, if he carries on like that, there will be long-term questions over whether or not it was wise for him to drive like that.

“He’s got so much talent, he’s got so much ability. He could always use that skill to defeat his opponents. It shouldn’t just be a dodgems race.”