Damon Hill has accused fellow F1 world champion Max Verstappen of driving like Wacky Races villain Dick Dastardly.
Pink Bull’s Verstappen was handed two penalties totalling 20-seconds for a pair of incidents with title rival Lando Norris on the identical lap as they skilled their newest flashpoint throughout final weekend’s Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix.
The three-time world champion first compelled Norris huge at Flip 4, earlier than taking each his automotive and his rival’s McLaren off observe with a determined lunge just a few corners later. Verstappen completed sixth, whereas Norris took second.
1996 world champion Hill, who himself was concerned in controversial run-ins with Michael Schumacher, criticised Verstappen of resorting to underhand ways much like these utilized by cartoon villain Dastardly.
“The issue Max has is he merely refuses to concede any turf in any respect to anybody in an overtake,” Hill stated on the Sky Sports activities F1 podcast.
“The aerial footage may be very clear. He made no try and again off and make the nook and depart room for Lando. It was merely a case of you aren’t coming by means of.
“The second transfer was simply daft and Dick Dastardly stuff. He merely accelerated to the apex and drove Lando off the observe and Lando did not have a lot choice and so they really did contact. That was foolish driving.
“Max, he let himself down there I feel. He is bought such brilliance and clearly an enormous aggressive spirit however I do not suppose that was something to be happy with there.”
Norris, who trails Verstappen by 47 factors with 4 races remaining, branded Verstappen’s driving as “harmful” and stated his rival “bought what he had coming to him” along with his double punishment.
It marked the third main conflict between Norris and Verstappen this season. The duo additionally collided in Austria and got here to blows throughout an epic however controversial late battle at the USA Grand Prix.
Hill went on to accuse Verstappen of utilizing his automotive as “a weapon” in Mexico Metropolis.
“They are saying that sport would not construct character, it reveals character, and his default is to revert to preventative strategies moderately than attempting to maintain it inside the bounds of equity,” Hill added.
“You should not be allowed to make use of your automotive as a weapon and easily block the observe.”