Max on the ‘hyprocrites’ after walking away from crash

Michelle Foster
Max Verstappen walks away from Lewis Hamilton. Italy September 2021.

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen leaves his car and walks away from Lewis Hamilton with the Brit sitting in his stricken Mercedes. Italy September 2021.

Max Verstappen says there are a “lot of hypocrites in the world” after he was criticised for walking away from Lewis Hamilton without checking on him at Monza.

Crashing out of the Italian Grand Prix, Verstappen’s race ended with his RB16B partially on top of Hamilton’s Mercedes, both drivers stuck in the gravel and out of the grand prix.

Despite the nature of the crash, one in which Halo played its part in keeping Hamilton safe, Verstappen climbed out of his car and walked away, doing so without going over to Hamilton to check if the Brit was alright.

Verstappen was criticised for his actions, with Hamilton the first to speak, saying he “found that a little bit surprising, because ultimately I think when we go out, and when we do have incidents, the first thing we want is make sure if the guy that we crashed into or we collided with is okay.”

The Dutchman was quick to defend himself at the time, and reiterated that during his pre-Russian GP driver press conference.

“There are a lot of hypocrites in the world, that’s for sure,” he said.

“I mean, I jumped out of the car and I looked to the left. And he’s of course still trying to reverse, shaking the wheel, trying to get away under my car. So I think he was absolutely fine.

“Also flying on Monday or Tuesday to America to attend a gala, I think you only do that if you feel fine. So I think already there, everything was all under control.”

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Blamed by the race stewards for the collision, which took place at the Rettifilo chicane as Verstappen first tried to pass Hamilton around the outside and then up the inside where he ran out of road, the Red Bull driver will have a three-place grid penalty for this weekend’s race at Sochi.

He doesn’t agree with it.

“I was a bit surprised to hear the three-place grid penalty myself, but at the end of the day, it’s what they decided,” he said. “I don’t need to agree with it.

“I have my own views, of course. But we just move on and make the best of it. It is of course, not ideal. But it’s not the end of the world.”

He also isn’t expecting any carry over this weekend.

“Not from my side,” he said. “I’m pretty calm and chilled about everything. It’s more the questions I keep getting about it.

“We’re all professional enough to leave this behind at Monza, and let’s continue again here in Sochi and the races after that.”

Hamilton/Verstappen won’t change their approach

Hamilton and Verstappen won't change their approach

We're into the final stretch of the season now. Don't expect either Hamilton or Verstappen to change how they approach each other.