Verstappen: I think I know what I'm doing

Red Bull's Verstappen, the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship leader, was twice penalised for forcing his McLaren title rival Lando Norris wide and going off and gaining an advantage when they clashed in last weekend's Mexico City Grand Prix.

Damon Hill, the 1996 F1 world champion, told a Sky Sports podcast that Verstappen had used his car as a weapon and accused him of "Dick Dastardly stuff" -- a reference to the 1960s 'Wacky Races' cartoon villain.

Ex-Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya said of Verstappen's shenanigans on Sunday: “Max takes the piss out of how far he takes things. The only way to stop him is to run him over. Max needs to know that he has something to fear from Lando. When Carlos [Sainz] dive-bombed him, he didn’t give him a fighting chance.”

Asked by media at Brazil's Interlagos circuit about Hill saying he was not sure Verstappen was capable of racing fairly, the reigning champion bristled: "I don't listen to those individuals, I just do my thing. I'm a three-time world champion. I think I know what I'm doing."

Asked if he felt unfairly targeted, Verstappen replied: "Honestly, I have my opinions. I don't need to share them" adding that he listened to those who were objective and close to him and "not just there to stir".

"Some people are just being very annoying and I know who these people are. I don't really pay a lot of attention to them anyway. I think I've got to this stage in my career with the right people supporting me and making my own decisions."

The Dutch ace repeated: "So I think I know what I'm doing. Some people are just a bit biased ... I get it, it's fine. But it's not my problem at the end of the day. I just continue with my life and I keep performing."

After last Sunday's Mexico City Grand Prix, Norris said that the Dutch driver had got what he had coming to him. The Briton, second in Mexico with Verstappen sixth, goes into the sprint weekend in Sao Paulo 47 points behind his rival with four rounds remaining.

Asked about his hard and aggressive driving, Verstappen told reporters: "I think it's just you win some, you lose some. That's how it is in racing in general. I like to win. I don't like to lose. I think not many people like to lose. I just tried to maximise the result and, like I said, some you win, some you lose."

Verstappen won seven of the first ten GPs this season but has not stood on the top step of a podium since the Spanish GP back in June, but remains favourite to claim his fourth F1 world title in a row. (Writing by Alan Baldwin)