Newey: ‘Silly’ Max ‘shouldn’t have brake-tested Hamilton’

Adrian Newey has admitted Max Verstappen did brake-test Lewis Hamilton in Saudi Arabia last year, calling it a “silly” thing to have done.

Red Bull’s chief technical officer said Verstappen had been “a bit naughty” in Brazil also as he and his Mercedes rival duelled for the World Championship.

In the first of those two incidents, at Interlagos, the Dutchman forced Hamilton off the track when trying to defend the lead – a move the Briton was eventually able to execute successfully as he won from 10th on the grid.

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Two races later came the grand prix in which the pair clashed more intensely than at any other stage during a high-pressure battle for the title.

At the inaugural F1 race in Saudi Arabia, there were multiple clashes between the two rivals and at one point Verstappen was instructed over the team radio to concede position to Hamilton along the straight.

In doing so, the Red Bull driver braked and Hamilton’s car hit the back of his, with the seven-time champion accusing Verstappen of brake-testing him.

Verstappen insisted he was merely trying to ensure he had been behind at the DRS detection point rather than doing something to antagonise Hamilton.