Verstappen 'using fear and intimidation' in F1 title fight with Norris - Hill

Damon Hill has doubled down on his recent criticism of Max Verstappen by claiming the three-time F1 champion is "using fear and intimidation" in his F1 championship showdown with Lando Norris.

The 1996 F1 champion had lambasted Verstappen after witnessing the incidents between the Red Bull driver and his McLaren rival during the Mexico City Grand Prix during which the Dutchman was handed two 10-second penalties for his aggressive manoeuvres.

Hill described Verstappen's driving as "Dick Dastardly stuff", referring to an iconic cartoon character who would concoct ways of sabotaging his rivals that would usually backfire.

Speaking as a pundit on Sky Sports F1 for this weekend's São Paulo Grand Prix, asked whether he stood by his comments, Hill was unrepentant.

"Yes, I do," he said. "I think that he's using fear and intimidation. But I think he also has explained a little bit more about his tactics, which has been that he regards it as a gamble. Sometimes it may pay off. Sometimes he may get the better of the stewards. They might not apply a penalty.

"He's also using it as a way of compromising the title contender in Lando Norris. So there's some logic, there's some method to his angriness, if you want to call it that, on the track.

"As he says, he knows what he's doing, but is it right and is it fair? And I think there are also rules somewhere that everyone is there to drive to ensure fairness, and we shouldn't be condoning driving cars off the track." 

Verstappen was asked in Thursday's FIA press conference whether he was aware of Hill's original comments. He replied that he "doesn't listen to those individuals. I just do my thing. I'm a three-time world champion. I think I know what I'm doing."

Hill countered by saying he was not alone in his opinion, believing the condemnation of Verstappen's antics was widespread, and that he had barely changed his style since he arrived in F1.

"I think I'm clear about what I understand Max to be, and he's been consistent from the moment he arrived in Formula 1, using what were regarded as dangerous tactics," said Hill.

"And regulations have been brought in to clear up some of the things that he himself has brought upon himself because of the way he drives.

"And then the FIA bring in regulations to try and contain it because they don't want racing like that, and they don't want dangerous situations as well, such as changing line under a braking area, and stuff like that, which is what he used to get up to as well. So they put in regulations to cover that.

"When he makes the point about individuals, it's not individuals. It's almost universal disapproval. That's the point. It's not a vendetta against Max. It's simply the people who watch the racing want it to be conducted in a reasonable and fair way.

"And if there isn't a way of going racing like that, if everybody was doing this, it would be daft, it would be silly, and it wouldn't be worth watching."

Referring in conclusion to the incident with Lewis Hamilton in the 2021 Brazilian Grand Prix that should have earned a penalty but didn't, Hill said: "We like close racing.

"Where we are in Sao Paulo, this is where it all started, a little bit in '21 with him running deep into Turn Four, and everyone went, 'Hang on a minute. You can't just run the guy clean off the road to defend', and he's still doing it."