Max Verstappen doubles down in his criticism of ‘disrespectful’ Lewis Hamilton as Red Bull insists rival’s and Mercedes’ antics in wake of British Grand Prix crash ‘shows who they really are’
- Max Verstappen has doubled down on his criticism of rival Lewis Hamilton
- Hamilton and Verstappen collided in the opening lap of the British Grand Prix
- The Red Bull star fumed at Hamilton’s ecstatic celebrations with supporters
- Verstappen maintains that Hamilton was ‘disrespectful’ in the aftermath
Max Verstappen has doubled down on his criticism of Lewis Hamilton as the world championship leader maintained that his Mercedes rival was ‘disrespectful’ for celebrating while he was in hospital.
Hamilton, 36, clinched a much-needed win at the British Grand Prix earlier this month to close the gap on his Red Bull rival by eight points heading into this weekend’s race in Hungary.
However, Hamilton was embroiled in controversy when his car made contact with Verstappen’s on the opening lap of the race, sending the 23-year-old crunching into the crash barriers at a force of 51G.
Max Verstappen (L) has doubled down on his claims that Lewis Hamilton (R) was disrespectful
Verstappen and Hamilton collided on the opening lap of a thrilling British Grand Prix
The Red Bull star was sent into the crash barriers at a force of 51G in the race this month
Red Bull chief Christian Horner hit out at Hamilton after the race, labelling the incident ‘an amateur mistake and a desperate one’ on the Briton’s part, while Verstappen fumed at scenes of Hamilton celebrating in front of his adoring fans while he was being assessed in hospital.
And the Red Bull star has refused to back down in his war of words with Hamilton ahead of the 11th race of the season at Hungaroring.
‘If you mean with disrespectful, [it’s] when one guy is in the hospital and the other one is waving the flag around like nothing has happened, while you pushed the [other] guy into the wall at 51G,’ Verstappen said.
‘And not only that, just the whole reaction of the team besides that, I think. That’s not how you celebrate the win, especially a win how they got it.
Hamilton went onto win the race and celebrated jubilantly in front of his home supporters
And Verstappen insists that the celebrations from Hamilton and Mercedes were ‘disrespectful’
‘So yeah, that’s what I found really disrespectful and in a way I mean it shows how they really are, you know. It comes out after a pressured situation. But I wouldn’t want to be seen like that.’
Hamilton and Mercedes have staunchly defended their position in the crash that has cost Red Bull £1.3million, with the seven-time world champion picking fault with Verstappen’s ‘aggressive’ driving style.
‘I have been giving my all this week. I always try to be measured in battles with Max and he is aggressive,’ he said.
‘I was fully alongside him and he did not give me the space but regardless of whether I agree with the penalty I was not going to let anything get in the way of the national anthem and the British flag.’