Max Verstappen’s driving fashion has been closely criticised of late however Lewis Hamilton says little has modified since they fought for the title all the way down to the final lap of the 2021 Formulation 1 season.
Purple Bull’s reigning champion, who denied Hamilton an eighth title in a season filled with incidents, was twice penalised in Mexico final Monday, Australian time, for forcing his McLaren title rival Lando Norris extensive and going off and gaining a bonus.
“All you must do is simply go and look again and hearken to a few of my radio feedback again within the day,” Hamilton advised reporters when requested about Norris saying the triple world champion was “harmful”.
“I do not assume you are seeing a lot distinction throughout the years from 2021 to now. It is just about the identical,” he added, talking forward of the São Paulo Grand Prix on Monday morning, AEDT.
Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton had well-known on-track battles in 2021, together with this crash on the Italian Grand Prix. (Getty Photos: Peter Van Egmond)
Championship chief Verstappen hit again at critics, saying in a separate press convention he knew what he was doing.
“I’ve heard that earlier than in my profession,” Verstappen mentioned when requested about whether or not he would change his driving fashion.
“It is my tenth 12 months in Formulation 1, I believe I do know what I am doing.”
São Paulo’s Interlagos circuit noticed one of many memorable 2021 battles between Hamilton and Verstappen, with each going off observe whereas combating for the lead in a race gained by the Mercedes driver as they fought neck-and-neck for the title.
Verstappen ended up successful the championship after overtaking Hamilton on the final lap of the ultimate race of the season in Abu Dhabi, claiming his first world title.
Drivers had a gathering after the Mexican race that Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate George Russell, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Affiliation, described as “optimistic” given the incidents on observe.
“Actions that ought to have been punished had been punished,” Russell advised reporters in São Paulo.
Verstappen holds a 47-point lead within the drivers’ championship over Norris with 4 race weekends remaining.
There are 4 grands prix and two dash races left within the season, with one of many sprints being held in Sao Paulo.
There’s a most of 120 factors to be gained from the remaining 4 weekends.
Reuters/ABC
