Verstappen welcomes Hamilton’s backing

Max Verstappen reckons Lewis Hamilton’s public support of him shows that he too is a “racer.”

Verstappen has been widely criticised of late with the Ferrari drivers and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff concerned that he is antics will result in a massive accident.

Even FIA race director Charlie Whiting stepped in at Monza where he had a chat with Verstappen and gave him a “gentle warning”, according to team boss Christian Horner.

However, not everyone is against Verstappen.

“Give the guy a break,” Hamilton said in Italy. “He is 18 years old, and what the frickin’ heck were any of us doing at 18?

“He has won a grand prix, and the pressure on his young shoulders is something most people will not be able to comprehend. He is young and he is learning.

“I don’t know what I would have been like at 18, but I would have made lots of mistakes.”

Verstappen has welcomed the sport, saying it speaks to who Hamilton is out on track.

He told Sky Sports News HQ: “It’s good. It shows that he is a racer as well.”