Hill slams Red Bull: 'Hard Kids cry when Max crosses the line'
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Former Sky F1 commentator Damon Hill Damon Hill has stepped into the spotlight to defend his past criticism of Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing.
Speaking to The Telegraph, the 1996 F1 World Champion pushed back against accusations of bias that have shadowed the Milton Keynes squad's perception in the UK.
For Hill, who analyzed the sport on Sky's airwaves from 2012 until last year, dissecting Red Bull's actions was simply part of the gig – with no personal vendetta required.
Praise and Principle
"I'm not anti-Max," Hill insisted. "This is the point. I think Max is brilliant,I like him. I mean what's not to like? He's sensational. But when I felt he overstepped the mark, I said so."
His admiration for Verstappen's talent is clear, yet Hill's critique zeroes in on accountability—or the lack of it.
"And I think Red Bull have a responsibility, their team management has a responsibility, to the sport, you know?
"If their driver goes over the limit on occasion, they have a responsibility to say 'You can't do that.' And they don't.
"That's always been my issue with them. That they have almost given Max carte blanche and protected their driver from not sticking to the code, if you like."
The 2024 season, marked by Verstappen's on-track clashes with Lando Norris at the Austrian and US Grands Prix, fueled Hill's stance.
"Max correctly interpreted to his advantage the rule about overtaking and being ahead at the apex on the inside," he ex-F1 driver explained.
"There's nothing in the rules that says you can't do that. And it's exciting to see people dive down the inside.
"Except that no other driver does it. And if someone was to do it to him, he'd cry like a baby. And that's one of my issues with them. Red Bull simply can't accept that.
"No, it really is slightly disappointing, to say the least, that they like to be thought of as the hard kids on the block, but when something doesn't go their way, they cry about it."
Beyond Borders
Hill also tackled the broader narrative Red Bull has spun – one of alleged British bias, a sentiment echoed by Verstappen's father, Jos, who recently claimed Max "fires up those Englishmen."
Hill dismissed it outright. "As I say, I like Max. What I don't like is jingoism. And I don't like the fact that it became a 'You're against us because we're not British' and all that nonsense, which was used as a way of pressuring us. I
"t's utterly unfair to suggest that there is any kind of anti-Dutch thing going on. What can you do? I thought I was there to express my opinion."
Hill turned the accusation back on Red Bull: "Red Bull fight their corner very forcefully. They don't like criticism of Max. And they didn't like, particularly, some of the things that were said.
"On the whole they've always taken the view that Sky are British-centric and biased, which is really unfair I think.
"Actually I think there is a desire [the other way]. I don't think Sky want to be accused of being biased at all. I think they want to be a fair broadcaster of the sport – credit where credit's due and all that.
"They also do not want to be denied access to a very important figure in this sport. And I think Red Bull know that, and they apply pressure if they need to."
Hill hasn't been alone in facing Red Bull's ire. Sky F1's Ted Kravitz endured a brief boycott from the team in 2022 over his post-race remarks, while Johnny Herbert recently lost his FIA steward role amid claims of anti-Verstappen bias.
Yet Hill stands firm, his words are a blend of respect for Verstappen's skill and a call for Red Bull to own their role in shaping the sport's integrity. For the ex-champ, it's not personal – it's principle.
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