Verstappen slams Hamilton’s British GP celebrations

MAX Verstappen took a swipe at title rival Lewis Hamilton from hospital, describing his celebrations after winning the British Grand Prix as “disrespectful” and “unsportsmanlike”.

Verstappen, who went into Sunday’s race at Silverstone 33 points ahead in the title race, started pole, but by Turn 9 on the opening lap here, he was out of the race, clipped by Hamilton on his rear right tyre and sent into the tyre wall at 180mph.

Checks by on-site medics resulted in Verstappen being referred to a nearby hospital where he watched a feed of the race in which Hamilton claimed victory from Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc two laps before the chequered flag.

“Glad I’m okay,” the Dutchman tweeted. “Very disappointed with being taken out like this. The penalty given does not help us and doesn’t do justice to the dangerous move Lewis made on track.

“Watching the celebrations while still in hospital is disrespectful and unsportsmanlike behaviour but we move on.”

Later on Sunday, Verstappen posted a second tweet, saying: “Cleared from the hospital after all the checks were okay. Thank you to everyone for all the nice messages and best wishes.”

The two drivers have history and have come together twice already this season, in the opening race at Bahrain when Verstappen went off track before being asked to give the position he gained back and in Imola when Hamilton’s front wing was damaged by Verstappen and he was sent into the gravel.

This time round there was a great deal of concern for the heavy impact Verstappen took.

It was investigated thoroughly by stewards with the session red flagged to repair the tyre wall.

Red Bull chief Helmut Marko went on German TV to ask for Hamilton to be suspended.

In the end Hamilton was given a 10-second time penalty as stewards determined he was primarily to blame for the incident as he came down the inside line at Copse corner but, in their opinion, didn’t have the necessary position on the Apex.

The Mercedes star, who cut the championship points gap to eight with victory, was labelled “amateur” and “desperate” — by Red Bull boss Christian Horner.