Lewis Hamilton has voiced his opinion on Max Verstappen’s recent conduct during the Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix, suggesting that the reigning world champion needs to “act like a world champion” following several contentious radio outbursts directed at his Red Bull team.
During the Hungarian Grand Prix, Verstappen, who crossed the finish line in fifth place after an on-track incident with Hamilton, repeatedly vented his frustrations over the team radio, addressing his race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase in a noticeably aggressive manner. The frustration has been building up over the season, especially as Mercedes and McLaren have secured victories, adding pressure on the Red Bull driver.
When questioned about potentially altering his approach to team radio communications, Verstappen was dismissive. He remarked, “People that don’t like my language don’t have to listen to it. Turn the volume down. I am very driven to success. I think I’ve proven that already.”
Meanwhile, Hamilton was asked how he believes Verstappen should navigate Red Bull’s current performance challenges. Hamilton responded, “You have to be a team leader, a team member. Maybe not so much a team leader but more so just always remember you are a team-mate with lots of people and you have to act like a world champion.” When pressed further on what acting like a champion entails, Hamilton humorously replied, “That’s a good question… Not like it was last weekend!”
Hamilton and Verstappen have a storied history, including multiple on-track collisions during their intense 2021 title fight. The two drivers came into contact again in Hungary, although this time both avoided penalties from the stewards. Following the incident at the Hungaroring, both had promised to discuss the matter privately, but Hamilton revealed that such a conversation had yet to take place. “No, we didn’t talk afterwards. We went to the stewards and that’s it. We’ve not had a talk,” he explained. Hamilton added, “I don’t know if we will, if we get time. Maybe we’ll talk in the [drivers’] parade this weekend, maybe. I’ve not felt like there’s necessarily a need to, but there might be something he wants to say. But we didn’t get the time to do it.”
Verstappen appears unfazed by the drama, maintaining his focus on success while Hamilton underscores the importance of composure and teamwork, qualities he believes are essential for a world champion.
As the season progresses, the dynamic between these two formidable drivers continues to captivate audiences, with each race adding a new chapter to their ongoing rivalry. Hamilton’s call for Verstappen to temper his radio communications underscores the high stakes and intense emotions that define the world of Formula 1.
