Damon Hill has once again found himself at the centre of controversy in Formula 1, this time by levelling fresh criticism at reigning world champion Max Verstappen. The 1996 world champion has defended himself and Sky F1 against accusations of bias, saying Red Bull Racing struggles to accept any criticism of its star driver and is strategically deploying accusations of “British bias” to deflect attention.

Hill, who has previously expressed strong views on Verstappen’s aggressive driving style, has refuted claims that he harbours anti-Verstappen sentiment. However, he did not hold back in his latest remarks, suggesting that if Verstappen was subjected to the same level of criticism as other drivers, he would “cry like a baby”.

“I’m not against Max,” Hill said, responding to criticism from Red Bull fans. “But you have to admit that when you watch him, the response is far from gracious. If the roles were reversed, we would hear a completely different tone from Max and Red Bull.”

Red Bull has often accused British media outlets, including Sky F1, of unfairly targeting Verstappen while favouring drivers like Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. The team, backed by the energy drink, has a history of weathering criticism, including boycotting Sky F1 coverage in 2022 after tensions escalated during the season.

Hill’s latest comments rekindle ongoing tensions between F1’s former champions and the younger generation of dominant drivers. While Verstappen remains at the top of the sport with his relentless performances, not all former champions have been as enthusiastic about his approach.

Lewis Hamilton wasted no time in grabbing headlines during pre-season testing. The seven-time world champion set a faster lap time in Q3 than Ferrari set at the 2024 Bahrain Grand Prix, setting an early benchmark with the all-new SF-25.

Hamilton, who has just finished a 17-year partnership with Mercedes, continued his adaptation to the Ferrari in Thursday’s session. His impressive time saw him edge out former team-mate George Russell by 0.399 seconds, proving he is already pushing the limits of his new car.

While Hamilton was making waves at Ferrari, Red Bull had a frustrating session, with Verstappen’s replacement Liam Lawson only able to complete 28 laps due to a water pressure problem on the RB21. The setback marked a rare moment of vulnerability for Red Bull, which has been dominant in recent seasons.

Despite the mechanical issues, Red Bull remain the team to beat, with Verstappen the overwhelming favourite for the 2025 season. However, Ferrari’s early promise and Hamilton’s unwavering determination could point to a much closer battle than expected.

As the 2025 season approaches, tensions are already running high. With Hill reigniting debates over Verstappen’s driving style and Red Bull’s handling of criticism, and Hamilton taking his first steps at Ferrari, the battle lines are being drawn on and off the track.

Formula 1 thrives on rivalries and this season is shaping up to be a dramatic clash between generations, teams and ideologies. Whether Hill’s comments will affect Verstappen’s mindset remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure: this year’s F1 season will be anything but boring.

Stay tuned for more updates as pre-season testing continues and the grid prepares for another exciting year of racing.