Damon Hill Verstappen’s fear tactics compromise rivals’ chances

Hill slams Verstappen’s “intimidation tactics” in title race

02/11/2024

Damon Hill critiques Verstappen, accusing him of leveraging fear to unsettle competitors in his relentless pursuit of dominance.

1996 F1 World Champion Damon Hill hasn’t held back in once again criticising Max Verstappen’s driving style during the Mexican Grand Prix, describing his tactics as “relying on fear and intimidation.”

Hill’s recent remarks follow a series of previous criticisms directed at Verstappen, which in turn prompted a rebuke from the Dutch driver himself.

Defensive in response, Verstappen retorted, “I don’t listen to these individuals.”

Questioned on Verstappen’s approach, Hill stood by his comments.

“I believe he uses fear and intimidation. He’s also outlined his tactics somewhat—viewing it as a gamble. Sometimes it pays off, and sometimes he gets the upper hand with the stewards, who might choose not to apply a penalty.”

“He also uses it as a way to compromise his title rival, Lando Norris. So, there’s a certain logic, a method to his aggression. He claims to know what he’s doing, but is it fair and just?”

Hill also dismissed claims of any bias or “vendetta” against Verstappen.

“The stewards don’t want dangerous scenarios either, like changing lines in a braking zone and so on, which he’s done in the past.”

“That’s why additional rules have been introduced to address such actions. When he talks about individuals, it’s not about particular people. It’s almost universally disapproved of. That’s the point. It’s not a vendetta against Max.”

“It’s simply people who follow racing wanting it conducted reasonably and fairly. If everyone behaved like that, it would be absurd, foolish, and not worth watching. We love close racing. Here we are in São Paulo, where it all began in 2021, with him sending Lewis off at Turn Four.”

“Everyone thought: ‘Hang on a minute, you can’t just push someone off the track to defend.’ And yet he continues to do it.”

Damon Hill: Verstappen’s fear tactics compromise rivals’ chances Damon Hill: Verstappen’s fear tactics compromise rivals’ chances

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21 Mar 2025 - 23 Mar 2025
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21 MAR 03:30 - 04:30
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2025 F1 Australian Grand Prix - Race Results

Lando Norris
1
LANDO
NORRIS
57
Max Verstappen
2
MAX
VERSTAPPEN
+0.895s
George Russell
3
GEORGE
RUSSELL
+8.481s
Alex Albon
4
ALEX
ALBON
+12.773s
Kimi Antonelli
5
KIMI
ANTONELLI
+15.135s
Lance Stroll
6
LANCE
STROLL
+17.413s
Nico Hulkenberg
7
NICO
HULKENBERG
+18.423s
Charles Leclerc
8
CHARLES
LECLERC
+19.826s
Oscar Piastri
9
OSCAR
PIASTRI
+20.448s
Lewis Hamilton
10
LEWIS
HAMILTON
+22.473s
Pierre Gasly
11
PIERRE
GASLY
+26.502s
Yuki Tsunoda
12
YUKI
TSUNODA
+29.884s
Esteban Ocon
13
ESTEBAN
OCON
+33.161s
Oliver Bearman
14
OLIVER
BEARMAN
+40.351s
Liam Lawson
15
LIAM
LAWSON
47 DNF
Gabriel Bortoleto
16
GABRIEL
BORTOLETO
47 DNF
Fernando Alonso
17
FERNANDO
ALONSO
34 DNF
Carlos Sainz
18
CARLOS
SAINZ
0 DNF
Jack Doohan
19
JACK
DOOHAN
0 DNF
Isack Hadjar
20
ISACK
HADJAR
0 DNF
F1 CALENDAR 2025
Race
Date
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Chinese
Shanghai International
23 Mar
Japanese Flag
Japanese
Suzuka Circuit
6 Apr
Bahrain Flag
Bahrain
Sakhir desert
13 Apr
Saudi Arabia Flag
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street
20 Apr
United States Flag
United States
Miami
04 May

2025 FORMULA 1 DRIVERS' WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Lando Norris
1
LANDO
NORRIS
25 Points
Max Verstappen
2
MAX
VERSTAPPEN
18
George Russell
3
GEORGE
RUSSELL
15
Alex Albon
4
ALEX
ALBON
12
Kimi Antonelli
5
KIMI
ANTONELLI
10
Lance Stroll
6
LANCE
STROLL
8
Nico Hulkenberg
7
NICO
HULKENBERG
6
Charles Leclerc
8
CHARLES
LECLERC
4
Oscar Piastri
9
OSCAR
PIASTRI
2
Lewis Hamilton
10
LEWIS
HAMILTON
1

2025 FORMULA 1 CONSTRUCTORS' WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

1
McLaren
27
2
Mercedes
25
3
Red Bull
18
4
Williams
12
5
Aston Martin
8
6
Sauber
6
7
Ferrari
5
8
Alpine F1
0
9
Haas F1
0
10
Racing Bulls
0
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