Damon Hill Hails Max Verstappen, Condemns McLaren Team Orders

Why it matters

F1 legend Damon Hill has dramatically reversed his prior criticism of Max Verstappen, now praising him as the "driver of this age" after his Monza win. Simultaneously, Hill publicly ridiculed McLaren's controversial team orders during the Italian Grand Prix.

The big picture

Verstappen's victory at Monza was his first since Imola, where he decisively outperformed the McLarens. This praise from Hill is a stark contrast to his earlier "Dick Dastardly" label for Verstappen, following penalties from aggressive driving at the 2024 Mexico City Grand Prix.

McLaren's controversy

• During the Italian GP, McLaren controversially instructed Oscar Piastri to yield second place to Lando Norris.
• This decision followed a slow pit stop for Norris.
• The team order directly impacted the intra-team championship, narrowing Piastri's lead over Norris from 37 to 31 points.
• Hill sharply criticized the move, drawing comparisons to his own 1993 Italian GP win, which came after his then-teammate Alain Prost suffered an engine failure.

What's next

The incident at Monza intensifies discussions about fair play and team strategy in F1. Such internal decisions often spark debate among fans and pundits, shaping narratives for upcoming races.