Jos Verstappen’s public statements have caused significant turmoil within the Red Bull team. Lewis Hamilton [L] Max Verstappen [R] (Via IMAGO)
Jos Verstappen has been outspoken about the internal power struggles at Red Bull and the controversies surrounding them recently. Following these incidents, various rumors have emerged, including speculation about a potential move to Mercedes. Now, seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton discusses the impact of Verstappen Sr.’s words on his son Max Verstappen.
Hamilton acknowledges that the drama involving team management and the drivers’ parents is not always beneficial and emphasizes the delicate balance that must be maintained. While the British driver refrains from commenting on the specific incident mentioned by Jos Verstappen, he explains that he lacks sufficient knowledge to provide an informed opinion.
Hamilton admits that he is unaware of the exact dynamics between the involved parties but believes that Verstappen is a mature individual and a champion in his own right. He asserts that Verstappen is capable of making his own decisions and advises drivers to carefully consider their choices, as not everyone will guide them in the right direction.
Lewis Hamilton faced another challenging day of practice in Saudi Arabia, encountering further issues with his Mercedes equipment. During Thursday’s session, he and teammate Russell experimented with different setups, but Hamilton could only manage eighth place in FP2. Russell, on the other hand, made significant progress with the W15, finishing the session two-tenths faster than Fernando Alonso.
Following a near collision with Logan Sargeant, Hamilton became the subject of a stewards’ investigation. The incident occurred when the Williams driver encountered Hamilton’s slow-moving Mercedes on the track at turn 11, forcing him to brake abruptly. The FIA deemed this to be a “serious, high-speed crash.” Hamilton’s frustrating day came to a close when Mercedes was fined 15,000 euros (£12,800).
Hamilton received a warning for failing to alert Sergeant of his presence. The British driver has been struggling with the performance of the W15 since the beginning of the season. Although he has occasionally made progress, his pace compared to Russell remains lacking. Hamilton’s tenure with Mercedes will come to an end after the 2024 season.