Lewis Hamilton Max Verstappen crash went "too far" - Damon Hill

Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen crash at Monza — Photo: © LAT Images

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Hamilton Verstappen crash went "too far" - Hill

Hill previously suggested Verstappen's move was "calculated"

Ewan Gale

Friday 17 September 2021 18:00

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Former F1 world champion Damon Hill believes the crash involving Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen at the Italian Grand Prix was a step "too far".

Verstappen attempted a move on the outside of Hamilton at the Rettifilo on lap 26 at Monza as his rival emerged from the pits, only for the resultant contact to end both drivers' races in the gravel.

Hill initially suggested the move which earned the Red Bull driver a three-place grid penalty for Russia was "calculated".

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Speaking on the F1 Nation podcast, the 1996 world champion explained: "It is a racing driver's job to try and not crash into the other racing driver, that is really where I am coming from. Sometimes it is unavoidable.

"But when it is an aggressive, uncompromising, 'I am coming through or none of us are coming through' move, then somebody has to come in and say that's going too far.

"If that is just allowed to take place and nothing is said, then have them all off, run them off the road. I can play that game as a racing driver, it is easy - just brake test people, barge them off.

"This is Formula 1, this is supposed to be about judgement and skill and making fine calls. Somebody has to come in and say 'guys, that's enough, that's too far, that's not how we want to see the championship decided.

"We want people to overtake, we want great moves. Daniel Ricciardo and Fernando Alonso are some of the best overtakers in the sport and they don't crash into people."

Verstappen "fair" to leave Hamilton no room on lap one

The tension around the move was heightened given the near-clash between the two drivers at the Della Roggia chicane on lap one where Hamilton skipped the corner to avoid contact.

Hill can see no issue with Verstappen's defence in that scenario despite Hamilton's frustrations.

"Go back to lap one where Lewis was on the outside into turn two, he goes to go around the outside of Max, who has the inside line, and he realises it is not going to work," added Hill.

"Max left him no room, which is fair because it is optimistic to go around the outside in a chicane like that. So Lewis goes 'ok, I have blown this one' and goes across the bumble strips and cuts the corner and reverts back to where he was.

"I think it was a mistake from his point of view, he shouldn't have got suckered into that move anyway.

"So now, if Max is accusing Lewis of squeezing him, I don't think it was an unfair amount of pressure, he had just about enough room to go around the outside if he wanted to, which he did."