Max Verstappen slammed for "dirty" move as F1 legend calls for investigation

27 October 2023 , 10:25

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Max Verstappen's tactics have been criticised (Image: Getty Images)

Jacques Villeneuve wanted Max Verstappen to be investigated for a "dirty manoeuvre" at the United States Grand Prix.

Verstappen, who recently won his third consecutive world title, started last Saturday's sprint race in pole position ahead of Charles Leclerc. The Red Bull star maintained his position by moving to cover the inside line, which almost forced Leclerc off the track.

Villeneuve wasn't happy with Verstappen's aggressive tactics and believes the race stewards should've investigated him. "Leclerc was pushed off the track, it’s too much," Villeneuve, who won the world title in 1997, told F1 TV. "It wasn’t necessary.

"I don’t understand why the first lap should be evaluated differently, a dirty manoeuvre or pushing a car to the limits of the track are things that should be investigated."

Yet Leclerc wasn't angered by Verstappen's tactics. The Ferrari star added: "To be honest, I would have done exactly the same if I was in his position. It’s on the limit, but as I’ve always said in the past, that’s the way I like to fight. So this today didn’t play in my way, but that’s fine. It’s part of racing and I’m happy with it."

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It'll be interesting to see if Verstappen adopts the same tactics at this Sunday's Mexican Grand Prix, with no sprint race planned for the day before. The big talking point ahead of Sunday's race is Lewis Hamilton's disqualification in Austin last time out.

Verstappen forced Charles Leclerc off the track during last Saturday's sprint race (Getty Images)

Do you agree with Jacques Villeneuve? Let us know in the comments below!

Hamilton finished second at the United States Grand Prix but was forced to give back his runners-up trophy after his car was spot checked by the FIA. The Mercedes motor was declared illegal for excessive wear on the underfloor skid block.

The FIA insists they don't have enough time to check all 20 cars - noting "it is impossible to cover every parameter of every car in the short time available" - but Hamilton is urging them to do so out of fairness. Leclerc was also disqualified for the same offence.

"What's crazy is they only test four cars, 50 cent fail," said Hamilton ahead of this Sunday's event at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez . "And I've had information from many others that were also illegal but they got away with it. That's messed up."

He added: "There have been many other scenarios like this where some people have got away with certain things and some people have got unlucky and got tested. There needs to be some form of better structure to make sure it is fair and even across the board."

Tom Blow