02/07/2016
NEWS STORY
Max Verstappen has accused Lewis Hamilton of hypocrisy over safety.
The Dutch youngster claims that while outwardly wanting to suggest that he is not interested in safety, playing up to a classic daredevil image, behind the scenes the Briton holds totally different views.
"We are looking for safety and we don't want to die on track," the youngster told reporters following a day on which he twice fell foul of the new kerbing at the Red Bull Ring, damaging his suspension on the second occasion.
"In the media he's saying like he doesn't care," the Red Bull driver continued, referring to Hamilton who in Baku had told fellow drivers to stop moaning about their concerns at the street circuit's safety.
"I had an incident in the driver's briefing saying the pit entry was quite tricky. He says, 'oh you shouldn't bother about it'. Then Nico jumped in and said: 'wait Lewis, you just said you were f***ing scared when you were entering the pit lane'.
"So what is this approach? Maybe he wants to be cool," suggested the youngster. "We are looking for safety, we don't want to die on the track. It needs to be bit of a risk but..."
The youngster, though still in his second season in F1, made it clear that whilst he respects Hamilton's success, he is not in awe of the Briton and will say what he thinks.
"I prefer to do it on track than talk about it in the briefing room but I'm definitely not afraid," he said. "It's not because he won world championships that you can't go against him. Everybody has his own opinion."