KEY POINTS
- F1 chief Alex Wurz weighs in on the rivalry between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen
- Wurz expects Hamilton and Verstappen to crash again this season
- F1 legend Damon Hill wants “somebody” to stop the pair from going overboard
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen have been warned ahead of their highly-anticipated duel at the Russian Grand Prix.
The rivalry between Mercedes talisman Hamilton and Red Bull ace Verstappen has arguably been the most captivating story of the current Formula One season.
Both world-class drivers have their eyes on the title and have been kicking up a notch race after race.
While such intense rivalries are good for the sport, F1 Grand Prix Drivers’ chairman Alex Wurz reminded Hamilton and Verstappen to also stay focused on finishing the race.
"I think [it's] very likely [that Hamilton and Verstappen will crash again], to be honest," Wurz told Sky Sports News. "Both have to mark their territory. That's sport, if you watch boxing, football, handball, whatever there is--when two greats are coming together, those things happen."
"Outside the car, I talk to both [Hamilton and Verstappen] and they talk to each other, and they have great respect for each other, which is really nice to see," he added. "But on the other side, on the track it's, 'hey, we are here to fight, we are here to win the Formula 1 world championship.' It's one of the most prestigious titles you can have in the world of sport.
"They have to fight, it's part of the game. Hopefully with the respect, they need for their own team and their own results, and not only for each other, because to finish first you have to finish, so they can't afford too many crashes."
Russell with Verstappen (second right) and Hamilton on the podium Photo: AFP / KENZO TRIBOUILLARD
It can be recalled that Verstappen and Hamilton got involved in another dramatic crash at Monza that resulted in the former taking a grid penalty at the upcoming Russian GP.
With a third crash expected to happen again this weekend, F1 legend Damon Hill is urging “somebody” to barge in and prevent another dog fight type of duel between Hamilton and Verstappen.
"This is Formula 1, this is supposed to be about judgment and skill and making fine calls,” Hill recently said on the “F1 Nation” podcast. “Somebody has to come in and say 'guys, that's enough, that's too far, that's not how we want to see the championship decided’.”
"We want people to overtake, we want great moves. Daniel Ricciardo and Fernando Alonso are some of the best overtakers in the sport and they don't crash into people."
