Conceding he’s been critical of Max Verstappen’s antics in the past, Damon Hill applauded the Red Bull driver’s dominant win at the Italian Grand Prix as he hailed him as the “driver of this age”.

Verstappen surprised many at the Monza circuit when he beat McLaren to pole position by 0.077s, and did so with the fastest lap in Formula 1 history.

Max Verstappen labelled a ‘cut above’ by Damon Hill

The Dutchman clocked an average speed of 264.682km/h or 164.466mph around the 5.793km circuit.

But whether he could keep the McLarens at bay in the grand prix was another story given the MCL39’s superior tyre wear ahead of a race that was set to be a one-stopper.

Although Lando Norris challenged the Dutchman for the lead on the run down to the first corner, he was muscled onto the grass but ca

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