The overtaking of Charles Leclerc outside the Copse against Lewis Hamilton was undoubtedly one of the highlights of last Sunday’s race at Silverstone, also because it inevitably brought to mind one of the most controversial episodes of last season.
On the first lap of the British Grand Prix, neither of them had wanted to lift their foot and there was a contact between Hamilton and the then world champion Max Verstappen, who had made the Red Bull driver finish at very high speed against the barriers, while the rival of the Mercedes had run into a penalty of 10 seconds, which in any case had not prevented him from imposing himself. Curiously, by blowing the victory right to Leclerc in the final.
Commenting on Leclerc’s overtaking last Sunday, Hamilton stressed that he considered the Ferrari driver a more sensitive driver than Verstappen. For his part, upon his arrival in Austria, the Dutchman gave the idea that he had in mind the reason why this time there was no contact.
“I think it’s very nice that, at 37, you can still learn to ride,” he told Dutch media after a loud laugh, referring to Hamilton’s trajectory. “He is learning, and this is good. It is also good for the youngest riders to know that at 37 you can still learn”.
Max Verstappen’s car, Red Bull Racing RB16B is loaded onto the wrecker after the accident
Photo by: Sutton Images
When asked what he thought when he read Lewis’s comment, he added: “Well, basically this. I think it’s good that he found the rope. The footage clearly shows what has changed since last year.” .
“I think Charles gave him less space than me, and that says a lot. In the end, he was the one penalized in 2021, so there is no point in talking about this.”
“In the end these comments have no effect on my performance. I just have to focus on what we are doing here and I think we are doing quite well this year,” concluded the World Championship leader, thus shifting the focus to the Grand Prix d ‘Austria this weekend.
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