Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen relationship questioned as "unpatchable"

Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen before the British Grand Prix — Photo: © LAT Images

Lewis Hamilton - Max Verstappen

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Hamilton and Verstappen relationship questioned as "unpatchable"

Damon Hill has urged the pair to "cool it"

Ian Parkes

Wednesday 28 July 2021 05:00

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Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen have been urged to "cool it" ahead of their return to F1 racing at this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix.

But former F1 champion Damon Hill has also questioned whether the relationship between the pair is now "unpatchable" following their lap-one collision at the British Grand Prix.

The incident has sparked this year's F1 title race into life that had previously been going in Red Bull driver Verstappen's favour, and with the fallout extensive.

It now remains to be seen at the Hungaroring as to whether the gloves are off between the pair.

"I think they need to cool it a bit," said Hill, speaking on the F1 Nation podcast.

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"I think they were both going at it scarily aggressively, and I think it was a product of the previous race.

"In other words, the sprint on Saturday, gave an indication, forward knowledge to Mercedes that if Max got out in front you wouldn't see him for dust, and I think they knew they had to get ahead.

"So a combination of factors which might have made Lewis a little bit more desperate and aggressive, and Max as well, because that opening half-a-lap was possibly the most exciting, daring and also slightly risky opening lap I think I've seen in I don't know how long.

"It was pretty breathtaking, on the edge, and I think everyone watching had heart in mouth, and they kind of expected something to happen and it did.

"You see on the replays, and some of the people in the crowd have footage of Max flying towards them in the grandstands, and that car was moving really fast. Max did take a hell of a whack.

"All a bit risky, and I think we were lucky in many ways we didn't have an injury."

Red Bull "bruised" says Hill

In the aftermath, all inside Red Bull rounded on Hamilton, with team principal Christian Horner describing the seven-time champion as "desperate" and "dangerous".

Horner has since refused to back down from his original stance, going further by adding the crash had cost his team $1.8million.

Hill believes Red Bull is now "bruised, definitely, in more ways than one" and wonders whether the previous cordiality that existed between Hamilton and Verstappen is fractured beyond repair.

"Is this an unpatchable relationship now?" questioned Hill. "Is it daggers drawn until the end of the championship and beyond?"