In the spotlight Red Bull driver Max Verstappen has earned himself an ally in the form of reigning F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton, as the Dutchman copped flak for his driving tactics during the Belgian Grand Prix.
Speaking to reporters on the first day of the Italian Grand Prix weekend, Hamilton said, “He has grabbed the opportunity with both hands. Give the guy a break, he is 18 years old. What the heck were any of us doing at 18?”
“He has won a grand prix. The pressure on his young shoulders is something most people will not be able to comprehend,” said Hamilton who had a stellar, but controversy packed first season in Formula 1 back in 2007.
Verstappen has taken the F1 world by storm, smashing records along the way including: youngest driver to start an F1 race, youngest driver to score F1 points, youngest grand prix race leader, youngest driver to score a podium and youngest winner.
“I don’t know what I would have been like at 18 on track, but I would have made lots of mistakes,” mused Hamilton. “I just see a young, talented kid who just seems to have an enormous amount of raw talent.”
“At 18, the maturity hasn’t caught up with your ability and that might go faster with some people or slower. Only time will tell.”
Of the teenager’ on track adventures at Spa, Hamilton said, “The one where he ran Kimi off, that was an interesting one, but that’s just him learning. He is a young aggressive driver. We could all go out there and be reckless. You have to find a balance.”
“I have driven with people in the past where there was a guy in front who was a complete psycho. It was, like: What the hell is this guy thinking?” reflected Hamilton who at 18 was Formula Renault 2.0 UK Champion and was making his first tentative steps in Formula 3.
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