During the Mexican Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton quickly identified that Max Verstappen was likely involved in an on-track incident when he spotted a “plume of dust” ahead. Verstappen had drawn criticism after receiving two separate 10-second penalties for two aggressive moves against McLaren’s Lando Norris. In the first clash, Verstappen pushed Norris off the track when the latter attempted to pass on the outside, while the second saw Verstappen launch an inside move, forcing both drivers off the course. These penalties ultimately hurt Verstappen’s race, leaving him in sixth place, his lowest ranking of the season so far.
With his second-place finish in Mexico, Norris managed to cut Verstappen’s championship lead to 47 points. Meanwhile, Hamilton claimed fourth after a competitive race with his Mercedes teammate George Russell. Hamilton and Verstappen’s on-track rivalry has been intense since their 2021 title battle, a season infamous for several controversial incidents between the two, such as high-profile clashes at Silverstone and Monza. These incidents have often cast Verstappen’s driving style as highly aggressive, drawing concern and debate within F1.
Speaking about the recent incident between Verstappen and Norris, Hamilton said he immediately suspected Verstappen was involved after seeing the dust. He recalled a similar situation during their Brazil 2021 encounter, where Verstappen’s aggressive tactics drew criticism for allegedly forcing Hamilton off the track. Such moments, including an infamous clash at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix where Verstappen was penalized for sudden braking, have fueled Hamilton’s perception of Verstappen’s “over the limit” style.
Hamilton has been a vocal critic of Verstappen’s driving approach, calling out his tendency to exploit grey areas in F1’s rules. Hamilton noted that he has often had to avoid dangerous collisions to continue racing, attributing Verstappen’s success in part to unclear regulations on on-track conduct. He urged for changes in F1’s racing guidelines, hoping for stricter regulations and clarity on the rules, especially for situations where drivers gain an advantage by going off track.
In light of recent incidents and Hamilton’s observations, F1 is considering updates to its guidelines, which are expected to be discussed at the upcoming Qatar Grand Prix. Hamilton believes that adopting full-time referees, as in other sports, could help ensure consistency and fairness in stewarding decisions. He feels these changes would address long-standing issues, limiting drivers’ ability to hold positions gained through risky or rule-bending tactics.
