F1 News: Max Verstappen Comes Under Fire After "Dirty Driving" At Austin Grand Prix

Villeneuve criticizes Verstappen's US sprint race tactics as Leclerc and Hinchcliffe provide contrasting perspectives on the incident.

At the sprint race of the United States Grand Prix, Max Verstappen's defensive manoeuvre against Charles Leclerc has raised eyebrows and sparked controversy. Amidst the debate, former F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve was vocal about Verstappen's "excessive" tactics.

Key Takeaways:

• Villeneuve criticizes Verstappen's aggressive move, dubbing it "dirty driving."
• Leclerc's off-track excursion draws mixed opinions on whether a penalty was warranted.
• IndyCar's James Hinchcliffe weighs in, mentioning Hamilton's similar tactics against Leclerc.

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Max Verstappen's bold racecraft has been a talking point in the F1 community for years. However, his defensive tactics at the beginning of the United States sprint race have now drawn criticism from none other than Jacques Villeneuve. The 1997 World Champion expressed strong reservations about Verstappen's move, going so far as to label it "dirty driving."

The incident in question saw Verstappen aggressively defending against Leclerc, forcing the Ferrari driver onto the green section of the track, over the pit exit. 

"He had to drive hard for that one. He really squeezed a little bit beyond the limit. That should be looked at because he went more than inside of the pit exit," said Villeneuve, highlighting his belief that Verstappen overstepped the boundaries of acceptable racecraft.

Villeneuve, in his conversation with F1TV, expressed concern over the stewards' decision to let Verstappen off without a penalty. 

"He was pushed off the track. That's too much. Yeah, that's not necessary."

He continued:

"I don't know why lap one is different because dirty driving or pushing a car up to the limit of the track should still be looked at.

"Now, obviously, two or three cars on an opening lap don't know where everyone is. Brake a little bit too late. These things can happen and maybe shutting your eyes on that a little bit, okay, for aggressiveness, but not for pushing drivers off the track."

IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe provided a more neutral perspective on the matter. 

"I think that was still a good move. That's a first lap thing. Everyone's jockeying for a position, so I'm glad there was no intervention there."

Hinchcliffe went on to express admiration for Verstappen's tenacity on track:

"I love seeing that fiery guy. When he does get to race someone, he really loves it. He takes it to that limit."