Red Bull star and defending world champion Max Verstappen had another underwhelming weekend in Mexico. The aching of a ten-race winless drought was apparent in Verstappen’s style of racing as he tried several attacking maneuvers. The RB20 has been lacking pace and was yet again out of colors on Autodrome Circuit. This technical downfall forced Verstappen into a vulnerable corner, and the Dutchman had no option but to make silly mistakes.
The 27-year-old racer had to face heavy criticism both on and off the track. A 2 10-second penalty hit the Dutchman after he pushed Lando Norris off the trail. Verstappen was in a similar situation earlier in the Austin GP, where he almost dragged Norris outside the white line. Thus, the governing body also slapped him with 2 demerit points to his super license. Lewis Hamilton took a subtle jibe at struggling Verstappen during the post-race debrief.
Lewis Hamilton Describes The Importance Of Racing Clean
The Mercedes starlet had a much better outing compared to his Austin nightmare. Despite starting from sixth, the Briton paved his way to a fourth-place finish. During the post-race media interaction, the seven-time world champion drew a subtle contrast between his and Verstappen’s notoriously aggressive approach. “It was fun, I had fun today,” Hamilton told the media after a decent run in the Mexican GP. Talking about his first stint, Hamilton highlighted excessive use of the front wing, which caused massive understeering. However, He was quick to adapt, understanding the balance of the setup and regaining control.
The momentum shifted after his pit stop, allowing him to rectify the mistakes. Although the pit happened slightly earlier than Hamilton expected, nonetheless, he described it as a decent run given the valuable points scored by the team.
Apart from the technical aspect, Hamilton emphasized professional conduct throughout a race. His nonchalant approach was visible during a clash with his teammate George Russell, as he managed to finish ahead of him without harming his team’s interest. Hamilton highlighted that the battle with a teammate is always straightforward, and none of them are silly enough to make unnecessary moves. Thus, the importance of racing clean is a nonnegotiable, especially when battling with a teammate.
George Russell’s Crash With Oscar Piastri Hinders His Mexico GP
During the media interaction, George Russell described his poor run after he clashed with Oscar Piastri. The Briton highlighted a problem with a front flap due to the damage sustained during the crash. Thus, he noted that this bump hindered his race pace, making it extremely difficult to complete the race.
