F1 news: Max Verstappen defends clash with Lewis Hamilton - ‘We are not here to be in a kindergarten’

Max Verstappen has defended his role in a controversial incident involving him and Lewis Hamilton during the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Mercedes have attempted to get the stewards to review the incident which occurred in lap 48 at Interlagos during which Hamilton tried to overtake Verstappen for the first time, only for the Red Bull driver to defend aggressively.

Both drivers sailed off of the track into the run-out zone with Mercedes seemingly of the belief Verstappen had purposefully run Hamilton off the road.

A decision on whether or not it was worthy of a review is expected on Friday.

Of the incident, Verstappen told Sky Sports: “Listen, if it would have been the other way around in Brazil it would have exactly played out like that.

“It’s hard racing. We are fighting for a championship; we are not here to be in a kindergarten.”

Currently, Verstappen leads Hamilton by 14 points ahead of the final three races of the season and that advantage could fall should the stewards take action, making this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix a mouther-watering affair.

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