In the build-up to last weekend’s British Grand Prix, Max Verstappen said he held no grudge against Lewis Hamilton for the brutal crash he suffered after colliding with the Mercedes driver at the fast Copse corner last year.
As a result of that incident, Verstappen was taken to hospital as a precaution, while the Briton received a ten-second penalty, which did not prevent him from winning the race.
Last Sunday, Hamilton had a similar duel at the end of the grand prix with Charles Leclerc, who overtook the seven-time champion on the outside in that same corner. Once the grand prix was over, the Mercedes driver described Leclerc’s driving as “sensible” and “different” from what he experienced in 2021 with the Dutchman.
Those words did not go unnoticed by the Red Bull driver and this Thursday at the Austrian GP, Verstappen was asked by Motorsport.com if he thought Charles Leclerc was a more sensible driver than he was, as Hamilton said.
“I think it’s quite good that, at 37 years old, I can still learn to draw the apex of a corner,” Verstappen said with a smile, accusing Hamilton of not doing the same in the incident between the two had in Copse during the controversial 2021 season.
“He’s learning, so that’s positive. It’s also good for the younger drivers to know that you can still learn at 37 years old. I think it’s good that he’s found a way to take that apex now,” he insisted.
“You can clearly see in the footage what he did differently compared to last year. I think Charles gave him less space than I did, so that says it all. And in the end he (Lewis) was the one who was penalized then. , so there’s no point in talking about that either.”
Max Verstappen had to endure some booing from British fans last weekend, something that could now happen to Hamilton as thousands of Dutch fans are expected in the stands at the Red Bull Ring.
“He has to live with it,” the energy drink team’s driver said when asked if Hamilton’s comments would serve as fuel for fans.
“In the end, those comments don’t affect my performance. I just have to focus on what we’re doing and I think we’re doing very well this year. That’s what I’m focused on.”
