I’D LEW IT AGAIN
Max going full throttle
MAX VERSTAPPEN is ready to pull the same aggressive move on Lewis Hamilton that sent his title rival flying off the track in Brazil.
The pair will lock horns again at the inaugural Qatar Grand Prix this weekend, the first of three races in the Middle East as the season reaches its climax. Hamilton recovered to overtake Verstappen with 12 laps to go in Interlagos and take the win, completing a stunning comeback from 10th on the grid.
The majestic drive means Hamilton heads into the weekend at the Losail Circuit just 14 points behind his Red Bull rival.
But Verstappen is determined to make life as difficult as possible for the Mercedes man and will not be altering his elbows-out style, despite the prospect of a retrospective penalty. Asked whether he would repeat the move in the same circumstances, Verstappen said: “Yes. As a driver I think we know exactly what we can or cannot do in a car, and we were fighting hard, braking late into the corner, the tyres were quite worn.
“If I would have turned more abrupt to the left, you’d just spin off the track.” Mercedes have launched an appeal against the decision not to investigate the incident now that onboard camera footage has been released.
The FIA were still deliberating whether to take the matter further last night and an announcement is expected today.
But Verstappen insisted he was not worried about a time penalty that could see his championship lead cut to 11 points
“I don’t even think about that,” he said. “I mean, it’s not the end of the world. I thought it was fair, hard racing between the two guys who are fighting for the championship.
“So it wouldn’t have been an easy pass, because that’s not how I am and I don’t think how it should be when you’re fighting for the title.”
Hamilton, having all but written off the flashpoint as a racing incident immediately after the race, admitted the new camera angles had changed his opinion.
But he stopped short of calling for the Dutchman to be hit with a retrospective punishment.
“It is difficult to judge when you haven’t seen all the angles,” said the seven-time world champion.
“Of course I’ve relooked at it and I have a different viewpoint, naturally, now. But I’m just putting all my energy into setting up the car and making sure I’m in the right headspace.
“The last race I was trying to focus on the fact that we did something that was quite remarkable.”