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Lewis Hamilton has claimed Max Verstappen still hasn't learned his lesson after calling him a “dangerous” driver in his 2021 title race.
The Purple Bull star is reportedly facing a five-place penalty for the Brazilian GP this weekend after two separate incidents with title rival Lando Norris in Mexico.
As a result, Verstappen received a 20-second penalty at the Mexican GP and was branded “dangerous” by McLaren ace Norris.
The Dutchman is only 47 points ahead of Norris with 120 left in the bag to collect.
And Hamilton has insisted that Verstappen has not changed since the 2021 season, when he overtook the Englishman on the final lap of the Abu Dhabi GP to take the title.
Lewis Hamilton believes Max Verstappen is still driving “the same” as when he called him “dangerous” in 2021
Verstappen received two penalties on Sunday in Mexico for incidents with Lando Norris
McLaren ace Norris is now just 47 points behind Verstappen with four race weekends remaining
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“All you have to do is go back and listen to some of my radiodifusión commentary from the past,” Hamilton said.
“If I were in battle, I might get more involved in it, but you have to ask those two.” [Verstappen and Norris] because they are the ones it is affecting.
“But I don't think you're seeing much of a difference over the years from 2021 to now, it's pretty much the same.”
In the penultimate race of the 2021 season at Jeddah, Hamilton believed Verstappen deliberately slowed down on lap 37 to 'test the brakes'.
Hamilton swerved but collided with Verstappen's left rear tire with the right side of his front wing. Verstappen received a 10-second penalty for erratic driving, but that was not enough to lose a place.
“He just gave me a brake test,” Hamilton said over his team radiodifusión at the time. “It was dangerous driving.”
After the race, he added: “I have raced with many drivers in my life, in these 28 years. There are some at the top that are over the limit. The rules don't apply, or they don't think about the rules.
He must have exceeded the limit. I have avoided collisions with that guy on many occasions.
Norris accused Verstappen of 'dangerous' driving after he contacted him twice
The Dutch Purple Bull driver faced pressure from Norris and the two collided during the race.
Seconds later, the rivals resumed their fierce fight and, taking advantage of the commotion, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc intervened to achieve the team's one-two with Sainz.
Verstappen then radioed his support team: 'Dude, what can I do with an empty battery? What is this stupid mode?
Verstappen received two separate 10-second penalties minutes apart for driving into turns four and eight over the weekend.
He was deemed to have forced Norris off the track in turn four, for which he received his first penalty.
Verstappen also forced Norris to abandon four corners later, regaining one position, and was then penalized for gaining an advantage by going off the circuit.
F1 legend Damon Hill accused Verstappen of “Dick Dastardly stuff.” Dick Dastardly was a character in a 1960s television series, Wacky Races, who attempted to win races using underhanded tactics.
But Verstappen, who finished sixth in Mexico while Norris came second behind Carlos Sainz, responded: “I don't listen to those people. I just do my thing. I'm a three-time world champion and I know what I'm doing. I have my opinions and I don't need to share them.'
Share or comment on this article: Lewis Hamilton offers a withering assessment of Max Verstappen's drive following the world champion's clash with Lando Norris in Mexico, insisting it has not changed since their infamous 2021 world title battle.
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