Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton have defended Max Verstappen following criticism from drivers for his defending during the Belgian Grand Prix.
Verstappen came in for severe criticism from Ferrari pair Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel after robust fights with Raikkonen during the race at Spa-Francorchamps. While a number of other drivers also believe Verstappen pushes the boundaries too far on occasion, Alonso says the 18-year-old did nothing wrong in Belgium.
"I think there is a rule you cannot move under the braking zone, so you cannot move when a car is alongside you," Alonso said. "There is one movement allowed and as long as you are still in front of the car behind."
Asked if that meant Verstappen's defending against Raikkonen on the Kemmel Straight was OK, Alonso replied: "Yeah.
"Regarding Max, on the long straight I don’t think Kimi was side by side, Max moved and put Kimi on the grass. It was very late and maybe he didn’t judge where Kimi was, but Kimi’s still behind. The rule, as written, is still good."
And while Hamilton would not be drawn on specifics, the triple world champion says Verstappen's age should be remembered when analysing his performances.
"Personally I don’t have an opinion about it because it’s nothing to do with me," Hamilton said. "I try not to get involved in other peoples’ business. He’s a quick, fast driver. He’s learning. He’s young - only 18 years old. Most of us when we were 18 years old were doing some silly s**t, I’m pretty sure. This guy has a GP win under his belt and is an exceptional driver. That’s all I see."
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