Verstappen “not surprised” by Mercedes’ request to review F1 clash

Max Verstappen says he is “not surprised” by Mercedes’ request to review his incident with Formula 1 title rival Lewis Hamilton in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. 
Max Verstappen (NLD) Red Bull Racing.
Max Verstappen (NLD) Red Bull Racing.
© xpbimages.com

The two championship rivals left the track at Turn 4 when Lewis Hamilton attempted to pass Verstappen around the outside in a controversial moment during Sunday’s race in Brazil. The incident was noted but no further investigation was deemed necessary. 

After missing on-board footage from Verstappen’s car was released on Tuesday, Mercedes formally requested a “right of review”. 

A hearing is taking place on Thursday in Qatar to determine whether the incident should be reassessed. 

"I didn’t need to look at the footage because I was driving the car so I know exactly what happened,” Verstappen joked when asked if he had viewed all of the angles. 

“I thought it was a great battle and I had a lot of fun as well out there. At the end of the day they won the race fair enough, they were faster than us, but I thought it was a good battle.” 

Verstappen, who arrives at this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix holding a 14-point advantage over Hamilton in the world championship, does not expect to be hit with a retrospective penalty. 

Max Verstappen (NLD) Red Bull Racing RB16B and Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 W12 battle for the leads of the race.
Max Verstappen (NLD) Red Bull Racing RB16B and Lewis Hamilton (GBR)…
© xpbimages.com

“I don’t even think about that,” said Verstappen. “‘If, if, if’ - I mean it’s not the end of the world.

“But again, I don’t expect that to happen because I thought it was fair and hard racing between two guys who are fighting for the championship. 

“So it wouldn’t have been, anyway, an easy pass because that is not how I am and I don’t think how it should be when you are fighting for the title.”

And Verstappen said he would do the exactly the same again if he found himself in a similar situation. 

“As I driver I think we know exactly what we can or cannot do in a car,” he said. 

“We were fighting hard, braking late into the corner, the tyres are quite worn and if I would have turned more abrupt to the left you just spin off the track. So that’s why we are the drivers, you try to control the car.”

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