Hamilton 'should be suspended' for Verstappen incident - Marko

Ewan Gale
Sunday 18 July 2021 18:42

Red Bull motorsport advisor Dr Helmut Marko has called for Lewis Hamilton to be suspended after the Mercedes' driver's collision with Max Verstappen.

The two F1 championship rivals made contact when side-by-side into Copse on the first lap of the British Grand Prix, sending Verstappen hurling into the barriers.

The Dutchman has been transferred to hospital for checks, such was the impact in the crash which earned Hamilton a 10-second penalty and speaking to Sky Germany, Marko commented: "You can't do that with the normal sporting code.

"I don't know what the maximum penalty would be, but such dangerous and reckless behaviour should be punished with a suspension or something.

"If a competitor massively touches our rear wheel with his front wheel, then that's no longer a racing accident in the fastest corner of the course, that is negligent to dangerous behaviour."

On Mercedes' belief that Hamilton was far enough alongside to warrant more racing room, Marko added: "Then they are all blind. The replays showed that quite clearly. He went into our right rear wheel with his left front wheel and sent Verstappen into the barrier."