They don't think of rules, says Lewis Hamilton after Max Verstappen collision

Following a collision and another near-miss at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton said title rival Max Verstappen drives “over the limit” and does not believe the rules apply to him. Hamilton and Verstappen are level on points heading into the final race, making the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix a winner-take-all event. To reach the tie, Hamilton won the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix with the fastest lap bonus point, with Verstappen finishing second. However, there was controversy throughout the race, particularly when the two collided on lap 38.

Verstappen slowed on the advice of Red Bull after forcing Hamilton off the track while defending the lead a few moments earlier. Hamilton appeared to be unaware Verstappen was doing so and ended up driving directly into the back of him, avoiding major damage and winning the race. Verstappen is near the top of Hamilton’s list of the riskiest rivals he’s had on track.

RULES ‘DON’T APPLY’

“For me, I really had to try and just keep my cool out there, which was really difficult to do,” Hamilton told Sky Sports. “I’ve raced a lot of drivers in my life, in the 28 years, I’ve come across a lot of different characters. There’s a few at the top which are… yeah, over the limit. Rules kinda don’t apply, or they don’t think of the rules,” he added.

When asked to clarify if Verstappen fell into that category, Hamilton agreed, saying: “He’s over the limit, for sure. I’ve avoided collision on so many occasions with the guy and I don’t always mind being the one that does that, because you live to fight another day. Which I obviously did.”

Hamilton stated that he had no idea what Verstappen was doing in the moments preceding their collision.

“Today I just tried to do my talking on the track. Keep the car in between the white lines and do it the right way. There were so many things thrown at us. We got the pole, we lost out. Then I got back past. Then he passed over the kerb, there were so many different crazy curveballs that were sent.”

“Then he obviously brake-tested to try, I think, to get the DRS into the last corner to overtake me again back into Turn 1. Commotion. I thought I’d lost my wing,” Hamilton added.

Verstappen still leads the championship because he has more wins than Hamilton this year, which means he will win the championship if they are still tied on points after Abu Dhabi.