© LAT Images for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd
In reaction to Max Verstappen’s issues with George Russell, Mercedes’ simulator driver Anthony Davidson says the Dutchman should “take a leaf out of Lewis Hamilton in many ways, when Lewis was in a dominant car”.
On lap 1 of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix Sprint Race, George Russell and Max Verstappen were involved in a battle for P3, which led to a collision that damaged Max’s sidepod.
After the race, Max confronted George in parc ferme, but the Briton wasn’t interested in a discussion. This caused Verstappen to call him a “d**khead”, and later “Princess George”.
George later explained he believes Verstappen should have been more careful, considering how as a championship contender he had “more to lose”.
Sky F1 analyst, and Mercedes’ simulator driver, Anthony Davidson agrees with Russell, and adds Verstappen should change his approach now that he has a dominant car.
“Max now having the car he has, Red Bull are the dominant team, and he’s spent many a year in a car that wasn’t a dominant car,” Davidson said.
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“He was fighting the likes of Mercedes that had that level of performance that he wished he had.
“So back in the day, like 2020, when he would he be fighting the superior car of the Mercedes, he would go for moves where he would take risks.
“He would send the car down the inside of Lewis Hamilton because that was his one chance to get in front of a Mercedes and then try and hold them up, the only chance he had really to try and win the race.
“But we still see him drive sometimes, and Baku was one of those races, with that same approach.
“He was saying [to Russell] ‘look, if you drive like that, if you send the car down the inside, then expect it in the future from me in return.”
Davidson then specifically said that Verstappen should take a page out of Lewis Hamilton’s book when it comes to these types of situations.
“I would say that’s the last thing now that Max has to just polish up. He’s still a young driver and he’s still getting better, which is quite worrying for the competition that he’s so good.
“It’s the one thing he needs to fix and learn from. Take a leaf out of Lewis Hamilton in many ways when Lewis was in a dominant car.
“He would give up a position on track to then get it back later on anyway because he had the car to do so. And Lewis would always see the bigger picture and play the long game.
“I think that’s the only thing that Max can tidy up going forward, because there was need to fight George quite as hard as he did so early on in the sprint race.
“Because he was going to sail past anyway with the level of performance he has in that Red Bull. I think he has to understand the car and the advantage he has this year over the competition.
“His main focus is Sergio Perez,” the Briton concluded.
