July 4th 2024.
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen have had their fair share of clashes on the Formula One track. As they gear up for the British Grand Prix, Hamilton, who was knighted earlier this year, made it clear that he wants to steer clear of the rivalry brewing between Verstappen and fellow driver Lando Norris. This comes after the two drivers collided during last weekend's race in Austria, resulting in Norris being knocked out of the race and George Russell taking the victory.
Verstappen was penalized for causing the crash, but he refused to take responsibility for it. This sparked a war of words between the drivers, with Norris stating that he would lose respect for Hamilton if he did not accept blame. However, in a press conference before the British Grand Prix, Norris seemed to backtrack on his previous comments and expressed a desire to move on from the incident.
Speaking about Verstappen, Norris acknowledged that the Dutch driver has a unique style of racing, which has contributed to his success as a three-time champion. He also revealed that the two had spoken after the crash, and while he didn't think Verstappen needed to apologize, he admitted that his initial post-race comments were fueled by frustration and emotions.
The incident in Austria once again raised questions about Verstappen's aggressive driving style, something Hamilton is familiar with after their intense battle for the 2021 title. However, when asked about his thoughts on the crash, Hamilton refused to comment, stating that he was more focused on his own race and celebrating his team's win.
Pressed for advice on how Norris could better race Verstappen, Hamilton bluntly stated that it was not his place to give advice, as the two drivers have been competing against each other for many years. Despite wanting to move on from the incident, Norris hinted that he still believed Verstappen was at fault for the crash, and called for stricter penalties from the sport's governing body to prevent similar incidents in the future.
He explained that while Verstappen may not intentionally cause a crash, it is important to define the limits of aggressive driving under braking to avoid potential accidents. He urged the stewards and the FIA to pay closer attention to such incidents and take appropriate action to maintain safety on the track.
In the end, both drivers acknowledged that there were things they could have done differently to avoid the crash, but they also recognized that incidents like these are a part of racing. As they gear up for another race, they both hope to put this incident behind them and continue to compete fiercely on the track.
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