The Formula 1 world is in shock after former World Champion Damon Hill launched a scathing attack on Max Verstappen following his controversial victory at the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix. In an explosive post-race interview, Hill didn’t hold back, accusing the Red Bull star of benefiting from “unfair tactics” and claiming that his win was simply “not deserved.”

Hill, a respected voice in the F1 paddock and 1996 World Champion, used just five damning words to sum up his feelings: “That win was pure cheating.” His comment has sparked outrage and debate across the motorsport community, with fans and analysts divided over the legitimacy of Verstappen’s triumph in Suzuka.

The race itself saw Verstappen dominate from start to finish, but controversy erupted after rival teams raised concerns about a possible breach of technical regulations involving Red Bull’s tire management and pit stop strategy. While the FIA has yet to officially investigate the claims, the accusations have added fuel to the fire.

“This isn’t what Formula 1 is supposed to be about,” Hill said during a Sky Sports segment. “If there’s even a shadow of manipulation or bending the rules, then it taints the entire event. Max is a brilliant driver, but this win isn’t one he should be proud of.”

Red Bull Racing has denied all allegations of wrongdoing, stating that their strategy was fully within FIA regulations. Verstappen himself responded calmly to the accusations, saying: “I drive to win. Everything we did was by the book. If people are upset, maybe they should focus on racing faster.”

Despite Verstappen’s calm demeanor, the scandal has thrown the championship standings into the spotlight, with fans demanding transparency and stricter rule enforcement moving forward. Some have even called for the FIA to review the race and possibly disqualify the Dutch driver.

As the F1 season intensifies, all eyes are now on the next Grand Prix, where the tension between teams — and between Verstappen and Hill — is expected to remain at a boiling point.