Verstappen open about frustrating moment: "For me that was not racing"

In the final phase of the Formula 1 Championship, tensions ran high between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. The rivals clashed on several occasions, including the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Verstappen looks back on one of the most sensational moments of the penultimate race of the season.

The race at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit had several controversial moments. The stewards of the FIA had an important role to play. They made a judgment on the moment that Hamilton overtook Verstappen when the latter tried to give back the leading position.

Verstappen does not understand why his rival did not just overtake him. "I want to let him pass but he wouldn't pass me," he began in conversation with Olav Mol at Ziggo Sport. "I was going slower and slower, but in the end he doesn't want to pass. Should I stand still or something?"

Verstappen did not understand Hamilton

It turned out to be a strategic decision by the Mercedes driver, who did not want to give his rival a DRS advantage. Verstappen said he would have done things differently. "I would have just gone past full throttle straight away. You're not allowed to overtake at the next corner anyway, so that wasn't the plan," he explained to the Red Bull Racing driver.

The 24-year-old from Limburg is not a fan of such tactics, nor of so much interference from the stewards. Does that occasionally take the fun out of racing for Verstappen? "It does, that whole race. For me that was no longer racing," said the world champion. "But then that was made up for in that last lap of the last race," he adds with a smile.