© Steve Etherington for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
2009 F1 champion Jenson Button expects “fisticuffs over the next few races” between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, while FIA race director Michael Masi hints at talks with the two drivers.
Everybody seems to be in agreement that ‘the gloves are off’ between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, after their collision at the British Grand Prix.
Hamilton’s former team-mate Jenson Button expects the rivalry to become even more “feisty” in the coming races.
“It’s going to be a feisty one from here on, which is good for us watching, but whether it’s good for them – I don’t know,” the Briton told Sky Sports F1.
“Emotions are running so high, these are two of the best drivers that have ever driven F1 cars and it is going to be fisticuffs over the next few races.”
However, Button hopes it will not lead to another high-speed crash like it did at Silverstone.
“We’ve just got to hope it’s done in the right manner. I think after this race hopefully they’ll discuss it.
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“That’s what’s important to me it’s that these drivers understand what happened and they talk about it and they move on.
“And then they can fight as they should, with the gloves off,” concluded the 2009 champion.
After the British Grand Prix, FIA race director Michael Masi was asked if he was planning on sitting-down with both drivers ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, to defuse the tensions and prevent another incident. He didn’t want to give a direct response.
“There are various discussions that happen with drivers individually, those will happen behind closed doors and from an FIA perspective will remain that way,” Masi said.
“How I deal with that one on one with drivers will remain between me and the drivers and the teams.”
