Max Verstappen defended his shallow steering input during his Formula One Brazilian Grand Prix clash with Lewis Hamilton, claiming that if he had turned his wheel more, he would have spun.
The Red Bull driver’s behavior is being investigated in Qatar this weekend, with Mercedes please request a review of the FIA’s decision not to investigate the incident with Hamilton on lap 48 at Interlagos.
The emergence earlier this week of front-facing onboard footage from Verstappen’s car, which the FIA did not have access to during the race, prompted Mercedes’ request.
The video depicts the events through Turn 4 and shows Verstappen not turning his wheel enough to prevent Hamilton from going around the outside, before he washes out of the track.
In the midst of all the controversy surrounding those moments, Verstappen responded, “Yes. You know, as a driver, I think we know exactly what we can or cannot do in a car.
“We were fighting hard, braking late into the corner, the tyres were quite worn. If I would have turned more abrupt to the left, you just spin off the track.
“So that’s why we are the drivers. We try to control the car.”
Verstappen stated that he had not gone back to review new video of the incident and that his belief that it was simply hard racing had not changed.
“I didn’t need to look at the footage because I was driving the car,” he said. “I know exactly what happened.
“And like I said last time out, I thought it was a great battle and I had a lot of fun as well out there.
“At the end of the day, they won the race. Fair enough. They were faster than us. But yeah, it was a good battle.”
Verstappen also stated that he was not surprised that Mercedes chose to pursue the matter further, given the increasing intensity of the Formula One title race.
“I think it’s quite normal when it’s between two teams instead of just one team with two drivers, right,” he said of the rivalry.
“So yeah, I just have to focus on what’s happening on track, of course. The rest will be dealt with.”
While the possibility of a time penalty exists if the FIA finds Verstappen in violation of the rules, he is unconcerned.
“I don’t even think about that,” he said. “And also, if, if… it’s not the end of the world.
“But again, I don’t expect that to happen because I thought it was fair and hard racing, and between the two guys who are fighting for the championship.
“It wouldn’t have been any way an easy pass. Because it’s not how I am, and I don’t think how it should be when you’re fighting for the title.”
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