Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Fernando Alonso react to F1 controversies

Formula 1 drivers Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen have reacted to a controversial start to the season. The controversies, however, have taken place outside the racetrack, yet has put the sport under a dark cloud.

Hamilton said F1 is facing a “pivotal moment” as it battles a series of off-track controversies.

Meanwhile, defending champion Verstappen tried to his best to defend his father Jos following his comments about the Red Bull team boss Christian Horner.

The build-up to season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix was overshadowed by the fall-out caused by Red Bull's investigation into alleged inappropriate behaviour by Horner .

On Tuesday, motorsport’s governing body the FIA said its compliance department was “assessing” reports that president Mohammed Ben Sulayem told officials not to certify the track used for last year's Las Vegas Grand Prix . As per a whistleblower, Ben Sulayem allegedly interfered in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in 2023.

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“It doesn’t look good from the outside and it doesn’t look good from within,” seven-time world champion Hamilton said ahead of this week’s Saudi Arabian GP.

“I think it’s a really important time for the sport to show and to stick to their values, holding ourselves accountable for our actions.

“It’s a pivotal moment in terms of what we project to the world and how it’s handled -– and it’s not been handled very well to this point.

“Transparency is really key. I am hoping to see some progress moving forward, but I hope it is not a year that continues to go on like this, but it does highlight some of the issues we have within the sport.”

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During last year’s Saudi Arabian GP, George Russell was briefly promoted to third after Fernando Alonso was penalised because his team touched his car during a penalty pit-stop.

The penalty was then withdrawn in a review process allegedly influenced by Ben Sulayem and Alonso reinstated in third place.

“We want to see all of the facts and just have total transparency really,” said Russell.

“We’re all racing here. We all want a fair and level playing field for us to showcase what we can do.”

Alonso suggested that the story had resurfaced because Red Bull’s domination on the track was less interesting than the off-track intrigue that has also focused on potential internal problems at Red Bull.

“There is too much talk off-track because on-track activities are not very exciting at the moment,” said Alonso. “There is one car winning the last 72 grand prix, more or less dominating three years.

“So, when this happens in a sport, there is always a lot of activity off-track.”

Over in the Red Bull camp, Max Verstappen did his best to calm troubled waters and defend his father Jos’s integrity, saying “he is not a liar”.

The Dutch driver was asked if his father had regrets about his comments suggesting Red Bull might explode if Horner remained.

“I have not asked him that, but my dad, from how I know him in go-karting, is very outspoken and he is not a liar. That’s for sure,” said Verstappen.

“My dad and I are very close. We call every day.”

He also attempted to calm rumours linking him with a move to Mercedes for 2025, claiming he was focussed on his racing and not any team divisions.

“I’m the driver, I don’t know what’s happening higher up,” he said. “But from my side, I’m contracted to focus on the performance side of things and that’s what I’ll focus on this weekend.

“What has been said in Bahrain from everyone is to just leave that behind and hopefully have a quieter weekend here.”

Verstappen’s close personal team consists of his father Jos, a former F1 driver, and long-time associate Raymond Vermeulen, a duo he has great faith and trust in.

“I don’t see myself in F1 without them by my side,” he said, adding that he hoped Horner and his father could iron out their differences for the sake of the team.

“I guess he (Jos) clearly felt like that, but from my side, it doesn’t matter being on one side or the other side,” he said, in relation to the explosive comments from Jos about Horner last weekend.

“As a son of my dad’s, it would be weird to be on a different side, but I just want to focus on the performance side of things and have less talk of what we are doing outside of the track than actual performance. We have a great car and look forward to a great year.

“Everyone in general, even if you have arguments or not, there are always things that can be worked out.”

An internal investigation into Horner's conduct had been carried out after claims of alleged inappropriate behaviour towards a female team member.

Jos Verstappen was unimpressed by the probe and the outcome.

“There is tension here while he remains in position,” he said. “The team is in danger of being torn apart. It can’t go on the way it is. It will explode. He is playing the victim, when he is the one causing the problems.”

Asked about the impact of the stories last weekend, Max Verstappen said: “I saw a lot of stories about that, which was a bit weird to read, but from my side, what I want – and it doesn’t matter who is involved in the team or not –- is to have a quiet environment where everyone is happy to work.”

He added that he intended to see out his current Red Bull contract to 2028.

“Nobody would have seen that Lewis would move to Ferrari,” he said. “But you never know in general life what happens, or comes to you, or happens around you or what might influence you.

“So you can never say 100 per cent that that is how it is going to be – and that is the way I approach my life.

“I am very relaxed and very happy at the team – and the performance is there, so there’s no reason to leave.”

(with inputs from AFP)