Formula One leader Max Verstappen hit back at critics of his driving on Thursday, saying he was a three-time world champion who knew what he was doing.

Red Bull's Verstappen was penalized twice for forcing his McLaren title rival Lando Norris wide and going off and gaining an advantage when they clashed in last weekend's Mexico City Grand Prix.

Damon Hill, the 1996 world champion, told a Sky Sports podcast that Verstappen had used his car as a weapon and accused him of "Dick Dastardly stuff" — a reference to the 1960s 'Wacky Races' cartoon villain.