Max Verstappen brings up Michael Schumacher in response to his 'dangerous' F1 driving

has robustly defended his aggressive driving tactics and drew his own comparison with Formula One icon amidst ongoing scrutiny after events at the Mexican Grand Prix.

The 27-year-old Dutch driver faced two 10-second penalties in Mexico City for his assertive manoeuvres on the track, relegating him to a fourth-place finish. The penalties came as a result of a daring tussle with , who trails Verstappen by 47 points in the 2024 Drivers' Championship, with four Grands Prix and two Sprint races yet to go.

Verstappen's recent on-track battle comes hot on the heels of a contentious encounter at the United States GP earlier this month, which resulted in Norris being handed a debated five-second penalty, costing him a podium spot, among other contentious moments involving the current champion.

With the Brazilian Grand Prix looming, a Sprint event, Verstappen is facing criticism but remains undeterred, as he told . "I don't care about compliments, I want to win, and I always give everything to do that," he declared.

"I think that's what connects me with drivers like Michael. He also never left anything untried to have the greatest possible chance of success. Both in the car with his driving style and outside when it came to developing the car. There is no room for fear - but you also have to use your common sense."

Ex-Formula One champion Damon Hill has not held back in his critique of Verstappen's driving tactics, likening him to the notorious 1960s cartoon character 'Dick Dastardly' and suggesting that Verstappen "let himself down" with his actions on the track. Speaking to Sky Sports, Hill didn't mince words: "The aerial footage is very clear.

"He made no attempt to back off and make the corner and leave room for Lando. It was simply a case of you are not coming through.

"The second move was just daft and Dick Dastardly stuff. He accelerated to the apex and drove Lando off the track and Lando didn't have much option. That was silly driving. Max let himself down there. He has such brilliance, and such competitive spirit, but I don't think that was something to be proud of.

"It is possible to race fairly, and that is something I am not sure Max is capable of. It is not in his repertoire, it is not in his philosophy. His philosophy is you are not coming past.

"They say that sport doesn't build character, it shows character. And his default is to revert to preventative methods rather than trying to keep it within the bounds of fairness. You shouldn't be allowed to use your car as a weapon and simply block the track."

Recent events on the track have sparked intense discussions about Formula 1's driving rules, particularly after a collision between Verstappen and Norris in the US. The FIA is understood to be drafting new language to address the specifics of their encounter, with plans to seek driver approval at the forthcoming Qatar Grand Prix.

ace has voiced that an overwhelming majority of drivers are eager for immediate rule changes rather than waiting until 2025. "I think the stewards are totally on board with what needs to change," Russell shared.

"Our view is, I think that the biggest discussion is they wanted to wait until '25 so it's something consistent through this year. I would say 19 out of 20 drivers said, 'well, if it's incorrect, make the change today'. I'm glad to see those incidents were punished today and I suspect, moving forward in Brazil, what we saw today and what we saw last week, you won't be able to get away with."