Hamilton Wishes Verstappen Would Think of the Kids, Show More Respect to F1 Rivals

Lewis Hamilton says rivals, including top rival Max Verstappen, need to clean up their act a bit when handling disputes with other drivers.

C'mon, Guys. Think of the children.

Verstappen has had a few outbursts this season, and he's gotten a little salty on the radio during races. He even gave Hamilton a one-finger salute and called the seven-time champion a "stupid idiot" during Friday practice at Circuit of the Americas on Oct. 22.

Hamilton believes that there's more professional way to handle things.

"I've been here for a long time. It's not my first rodeo," Hamilton said during a video media conference from Mexico City on Thursday. "But I think at the core of everything has to be respect. When I think about and I hear things that come out of drivers' mouths, I do think about a young kid, there are kids watching us, and they're looking to us for inspiration and for guidance.

"There has been a lot of things that have been said which are definitely not good for young kids that are watching. For me, I just try to remain positive and keep calm and again just be respectful to the drivers that I'm righting, regardless if I think if I have a name in my head of that they are, I don't share that. It's pretty easy for me.

"You laugh it off, and you move forwards."