‘We are better than that’ – Hamilton condemns Silverstone’s Verstappen jeers

Reigning
Formula
One
world
champion
Verstappen
was
greeted
by
a
chorus
of
jeers
before
conducting
a
post-qualifying
interview
on
Saturday,
having
had
to
settle
for
second
on
the
grid
after
being
pipped
by
Ferrari’s
Carlos
Sainz,
who
claimed
the
first
pole
position
of
his
career.

Verstappen,
who
recorded
a
time
less
than
a
hundredth
of
a
second
slower
than
Sainz
in
treacherous
conditions,
spent
the
2021
season
locked
in
a
dramatic
and
at
times
ill-tempted
title
tussle
with
Hamilton.

The
duo
were
involved
in
a
collision
on
the
same
course
last
year,
before
Verstappen
clinched
his
first
title
at
Hamilton’s
expense
in
contentious
circumstances
in
December.

Verstappen
also
courted
controversy
earlier
this
week
when
he
suggested
Nelson
Piquet’s
alleged
use
of
a
racist
slur
to
describe
Hamilton
had
been
“blown
out
of
proportion.”

Speaking
after
qualifying
in
fifth,
Hamilton
suggested
last
year’s
battle
with
Verstappen
may
have
antagonised
the
Silverstone
crowd
as
he
refused
to
condone
the
reception
afforded
to
the
Red
Bull
driver.

“I
think
we
are
better
than
that
and
I
definitely
don’t
agree
with
the
booing,”
Hamilton
said.

“We
should
be
here
pushing
everybody
and
it
doesn’t
make
any
difference.

“But
I
do
really
appreciate
the
support
I
have.
Maybe
some
of
them
are
feeling
the
pain
from
last
year.
Either
way,
I
appreciate
it.”

Mercedes
team
principal
Toto
Wolff
echoed
Hamilton’s
sentiments,
asserting:
“That
is
unsportsmanlike.
If
you’re
not
into
the
other
guy,
just
remain
silent.

“I
don’t
think
any
of
the
drivers
deserves
booing,
whatever
happened
last
year.
Being
booed
is
abusive
and
there
is
a
certain
limit
which
we
shouldn’t
overstep.”

Meanwhile,
Verstappen,
who
is
targeting
a
third
successive
race
victory
on
Sunday,
insisted
the
hostile
atmosphere
did
not
faze
him.

It
was
quite
a
tricky
Qualifying
with
the
rain,
but
to
be
on
the
front
row
here
is
good
for
us.
Tomorrow
is
when
it
really
counts
and
we
have
a
good
race
car.
So
we’ll
be
there

@redbullracing

Congrats

@Carlossainz55
on
your
first
pole

pic.twitter.com/LjPuSsfUNR

—
Max
Verstappen
(@Max33Verstappen)

July
2,
2022

“It
was
a
bit
disappointing
because
I
couldn’t
really
understand
[interviewer]
Billy
[Monger],”
he
joked.

“If
they
want
to
boo,
they
[can]
do
it.
I’m
always
happy
to
be
here,
it’s
a
great
track
and
a
great
atmosphere
in
general.

“Maybe
some
of
them
don’t
like
me,
they’re
all
entitled
to
their
own
opinions.
I
don’t
care.”

Get breaking news alerts.

Allow Notifications

You have already subscribed