HOW THE F1 WAR HAS ESCALATED

LEWIS HAMILTON and Max Verstappen started out as friends but are now definitely rivals.

APR 9, 2018: BAHRAIN GP

Verstappen was forced to retire after colliding with Hamilton. The Mercedes driver criticised the Dutchman who hit back saying ‘it’s easy to blame young drivers’.

OCT 27, 2019: MEXICAN GP

Another collision and, although Hamilton won the race, he said afterwards that ‘Max is a magnet for those kind of things’.

APR 18, 2021: EMILIA ROMAGNA GP

Verstappen forced his rival off the track and went on to win the race.

JUL 18, 2021: BRITISH GP

This was the first of three collisions this season. Verstappen crashed into the barriers and ended up in hospital while Hamilton was given a 10-second penalty. Red Bull principal Christian Horner said ‘it’s unacceptable. For me that’s a hollow victory’.

SEP 12, 2021: ITALIAN GP

Hamilton emerged from a pit stop alongside Verstappen and two corners later they collided. Verstappen’s car was flung into the air and landed on top of the Mercedes halo protection device. Both retired from the race. Mercedes principal Toto Wolff said Verstappen had committed a ‘tactical foul’.

NOV 15, 2021: BRAZILIAN GP

The heat turned up a few notches when Hamilton led qualifying but Red Bull pressed FIA to investigate the Mercedes rear wing. Hamilton was penalised and forced to start the sprint race from the back of the grid while Verstappen was fined for fiddling with the Mercedes rear wing. During the race, the Dutchman forced Hamilton off the track and, although the Brit went on to win, the two teams spent the week slinging verbal arrows at each other.

DEC 5, 2021: SAUDI ARABIAN GP

Verstappen was penalised for going off the track and gaining an advantage. Told by stewards to give a place back to Hamilton, he braked hard when Hamilton was close behind and the British driver collided with him. Hamilton, who described his rival as ‘crazy’, went on to win the race.