"He's over the line" - Hamilton takes aim at Verstappen

Sir Lewis Hamilton was decidedly unimpressed with Max Verstappen after several incidents with the Dutchman saw Verstappen penalised by the stewards. Despite winning, Hamilton took exception to Verstappen's racing. Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “For me, I really had to try and keep my cool out there which was really difficult to do, said the champion. 

Hamilton does not mind evasive action

As one of the more experienced drivers on the grid, Hamilton has seen and done it all in Formula one, and understands tha Verstappen is a hard fighter: "I’ve raced a lot of drivers in my life for 28 years and I’ve come across a lot of different characters, and there’s a few at the top which are over the limit." Explained the Briton.

Asked if Verstappen's actions were beyond an acceptable standard of racing, Hamilton was quick to fire a shot at his rival after a tense race. “He’s over the llimit for sure. I’ve avoided collision on so many occasions with the guy and I don’t always mind being the one that does that, because you live to fight another day which I obviously did.” 

He also reaffirmed that Verstappen unnecessarily caught him by surprise when trying to let him by. "I didn't get the information so it was confusing. All of a sudden He was backing up, or moving I thought is he playing some crazy tactic, I don't know. Then just as he hit the brakes, I nearly went into the back off completely and take us both out, the information came through. It doesn't matter for him if we don't finish, for me I need us both to finish. It will be interesting to see what happens. I'm personally chilled, I feel like I'm in the boxing ring and I'm ready to go."

The stewards continue to investigate Hamilton and Verstappen following several contentious moments during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.