Max Verstappen has welcomed calls from Lewis Hamilton for F1 to give him a "break" from criticism of his driving.
Debate over Verstappen's racing style dominated the build-up to last weekend's Italian GP with the 18-year-old receiving what was described as a "gentle warning" from FIA race director Charlie Whiting for his block on Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen at the previous race in Belgium.
Hamilton, who made his F1 debut aged 22 and won his first world title at the end of his second season, defended the sport's youngest-ever driver and race winner at Monza.
"Firstly, give the guy a break," said
Hamilton. "He is 18 years old, and what the frickin' heck were any of us
doing at 18?
"He has won a grand prix, and the pressure on his
young shoulders is something most people will not be able to comprehend. He is
young and he is learning. I don't know what I would have been like at 18, but I
would have made lots of mistakes."

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