Lewis Hamilton bluntly stated that \u201cyou don\u2019t expect to go around the outside of a champion\u201d after Max Verstappen called for the Ferrari driver to be penalised in Austria.<\/p>\n
Verstappen, at one stage in their battle, declared a \u201cclear penalty\u201d for Hamilton<\/a>. The stewards took a look, but decided that no further action was required. To Hamilton\u2019s mind, it was on Verstappen to back out.<\/p>\n Lewis Hamilton in \u2018champion\u2019 retort to Max Verstappen<\/p>\n Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for news you can trust.<\/p>\n Hamilton and Verstappen thrilled fans as they went wheel-to-wheel during the Austrian Grand Prix.<\/p>\n As George Russell began to pull away in the lead, Hamilton came under pressure from Verstappen, his former title rival.<\/p>\n On Lap 11, Verstappen made the move on Hamilton into Turn 3. He passed, but back came Hamilton, as the pair proceeded to go side-by-side through the sweeps. Muscled up to the gravel, Verstappen called it off.<\/p>\n \u201cClear penalty,\u201d Verstappen exclaimed over team radio.<\/p>\n Hamilton, reflecting on his scrap with Verstappen in Austria, told PlanetF1.com and others that it was \u201cgood fun.\u201d<\/p>\n Then, he was informed of Verstappen\u2019s radio comment.<\/p>\n The response from Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, was blunt.<\/p>\n \u201cHe went off the outside. You don\u2019t expect to go around the outside of a champion,\u201d said Hamilton.<\/p>\n \u201cI wouldn\u2019t expect to go around the outside of him there and hold the line.<\/p>\n \u201cSo he was behind at the apex, and therefore he should have backed out.\u201d<\/p>\n The FIA stewards did note the incident, but felt that no further action was needed.<\/p>\n After the first round of pit stops, Hamilton and Verstappen renewed their battle. Verstappen passed at T3, Hamilton came back. Again side-by-side through the sweeps, Verstappen went aggressive down the inside at T6, and got the job done.<\/p>\n More on Lewis Hamilton from PlanetF1.com<\/p>\n Leclerc\u2019s honest admission as Lewis Hamilton lands fresh blow at Austrian GP<\/a><\/p>\n F1 points all-time rankings: Where do Hamilton, Verstappen and Alonso feature?<\/a><\/p>\n The fortunes of both drivers split from there. Verstappen went on to finish a season-best P2. Hamilton managed fifth only on an afternoon where both Ferraris struggled with tyre degradation.<\/p>\n It was not the follow-up to Hamilton\u2019s Barcelona win which team or driver had hoped for.<\/p>\n Ferrari had introduced a substantial upgrade package for Barcelona. Hamilton warned that his team needs a \u201cmuch bigger\u201d step whenever the next package arrives.<\/p>\n \u201cI am really grateful for the team continuing to push it, and to just take that first step,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe next one needs to be a much bigger step.\u201d<\/p>\n Next up is Hamilton\u2019s home race, the British Grand Prix. It is a race which Hamilton has won a record nine times.<\/p>\n Additional reporting by Thomas Maher<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!<\/p>\n