Damon Hill described victory for Max Verstappen in Brazil
as “absolutely one of his very best”, a week after criticising the Red Bull
driver’s approach in Mexico City.
Hill’s words, in which he partly described Verstappen’s
defensive tactics as “Dick Dastardly stuff” against Lando Norris in Mexico,
referencing the Wacky Races character, was put
to Verstappen ahead of the weekend at Interlagos, before the Red Bull
driver went on to take an unexpected victory from 17th on the grid on Sunday.
Damon Hill puts Max Verstappen victory among ‘one of his
very best’ in Brazil
Verstappen had
risen into the points-paying positions by the end of the first lap at a wet
Interlagos on Sunday, before picking off other drivers one-by-one until he was
in second place, having not stopped by the time the red flag was waved midway
through the race.
This allowed him the chance for a ‘free’ tyre change and
to hold onto track position, but at the second Safety Car restart, he dived
past Esteban Ocon for the lead of the race and would not look back, eventually
finishing 19 seconds ahead of the Alpine driver as he took a significant leap
towards a fourth consecutive World Championship.
After an ill-timed stoppage in Q2 halted his chances of
progress earlier in the day and a five-place grid drop, Verstappen’s rise
through the field was lauded by Hill – challenging Red Bull team principal
Christian Horner and pointing out that he “never said he’s not a great driver.”
“Absolutely one of his very best,” Hill said of his drive
on Sky F1 when stood next to Horner.
“I mean, that’s one of those drives we sort of projected at
the beginning, that maybe this would be the day when he could show everyone his
brilliance, and he’s absolutely done that today. What a transformation from
this morning [qualifying] when we first spoke.”
Horner interjected at that point: “I think we’re going to
have to get that on record that Damon said something nice!”
The 1996 World Champion continued, though, and following the criticism of how he went about his defence in Mexico, the former Williams driver clarified his position after proceedings at Interlagos.
.webp)
