At the 2024 Mexico City Grand Prix, Max Verstappen‘s aggressive driving style once again came under fire as he defended his position against Lando Norris with notable intensity. In the process, he forced Norris wide twice, resulting in two separate 10-second time penalties being issued by the FIA stewards. This sequence of events reinvigorated the ongoing debate over Verstappen’s racing tactics.
Among the most vocal critics was former 1996 World Champion Damon Hill, who aired his grievances on Sky Sports F1. Hill accused Verstappen of leveraging fear and intimidation on the track, particularly censuring his actions during the second incident by labeling them as ‘daft and Dick Dastardly’. Verstappen, however, brushed off these criticisms, asserting that as a three-time champion, his driving style required no alteration and downplaying Hill’s comments as unworthy of his attention.
The controversy escalated as Sky Sports F1 announced Hill’s departure from their panel, a decision some speculated was influenced by Verstappen and Red Bull’s reaction to perceived ‘British bias’. Despite this, Hill shrugged off the notion of being a Verstappen detractor. Sharing his perspective on The Fast and The Curious Podcast, Hill described the internet as a place rife with sensationalism, likening it to ‘a ping pong ball inside a box’ being stirred by algorithms, lacking room for nuanced discourse.
While commending Verstappen’s racing prowess, Hill reaffirmed his original stance, emphasizing that Verstappen often crosses the traditional boundaries many drivers adhere to. Hill stated, “The points I made about Max, I think were completely justifiable. I totally stand by them in terms of what he’s prepared to do on track during the race to maintain or recover his position, or prevent someone from taking a position.” Despite offering high praise for Verstappen’s undeniable skill and hunger for victory, Hill highlighted the issue of Verstappen not facing the same exaggerated defensive moves he employs when others engage him on track.
The former Williams driver did not solely criticize Verstappen but also pointed a finger at Red Bull’s team principal, Christian Horner, for failing to rein in Verstappen’s aggressive tendencies. Drawing parallels to Michael Schumacher’s era, Hill recalled how Ross Brawn had occasionally pulled Schumacher back from such driving extremes. In contrast, Horner’s reluctance to address Verstappen’s approach was seen as neglecting a team responsibility. “If their driver goes over the limit on occasion,” Hill argued, “they have a responsibility to say, ‘You can’t do that.’ And they don’t.”
Furthermore, Hill assigned some blame to the FIA stewards, calling for more rigorous stewarding while urging them to establish clearer ‘limits’. He argued that the absence of robust enforcement contributes to a decline in the sport’s integrity. Hill’s comments underscore ongoing tensions in Formula 1 surrounding Verstappen’s aggressive driving, setting the stage for further discussion about the balance between competitiveness and sportsmanship in racing.
