Max Verstappen has responded to Lewis Hamilton labelling his penalty “double standards” after their clash during Formula 1‘s Mexico City Grand Prix.
Verstappen headed into the 71-lap race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez hoping to make a decisive blow in the Drivers’ Championship.
However, on the very first lap, the Dutchman was forced to cut the grass into Turn 1, after trying to make a move around the outside of the frontrunners.
Trying to back into the sharp end of the field, Verstappen had Hamilton to overtake on Lap 6. He dove down the inside of the Briton into Turn 1 but had to once again take to the grass.
He came back onto the track ahead of Hamilton who then tried to make his own move around the outside of the Red Bull driver into Turn 4.
This time, it was Hamilton who had to take evasive action, locking up, cutting the grass and emerging ahead of the 28-year-old.
The stewards deemed Hamilton had gained a lasting advantage by cutting the corner and imposed a 10-second time penalty.
“It’s definitely been frustrating,” Hamilton had said after the penalty slipped him down from third to eighth at the chequered flag.
“I had a good start – in Turns 1, 2 and 3 I stayed on track and was up to second, but somehow I ended up third, and nobody was penalised for cutting the track there.
“Max also cut Turn 3 and nothing happened.
“I asked on the radio if I needed to let anyone through for gaining an advantage… but no, and in the end a 10-second [penalty]. It is what it is.”
He had later slammed the decision as a clear case of “double standards” by the stewards.
Verstappen weighs in on Hamilton’s ‘double standards’ comments
When asked to comment on Hamilton’s apparent perturbation on his incident with Hamilton and the subsequent penalty, Verstappen offered his own take.
“That’s racing. It’s what we can do within the regulations. It’s what the stewards allow us to do,” he said.
“It’s been done to me too, so why shouldn’t I be allowed to do the same? It’s the same for everyone.”
After his opening lap battles with the likes of Hamilton, Lando Norris, and Charles Leclerc, Verstappen had seemingly settled into a rhythm.
His second stint on the Soft tyres saw him lap consistently in the low 1:21s as he put on a charge for second.
However, a late-race VSC caused by Carlos Sainz’s retirement meant the Dutchman could only muster third.
This means going into the final four races of the season, he trails new championship leader Norris by 36 points.
READ MORE – Why Helmut Marko wasn’t surprised by Lewis Hamilton/Max Verstappen clash in Mexico
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