Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen clashed in final weekend’s Sao Paulo GP; the pair collided on the monitor a number of occasions final season throughout their intense title battle; watch the Abu Dhabi GP all weekend stay on Sky Sports activities F1 – with the race at 1pm on Sunday
Final Up to date: 17/11/22 6:44pm
Lewis Hamilton agrees it’s ‘pure’ for Max Verstappen to battle him more durable as a result of he’s probably the most profitable driver and believes Mercedes have learnt a lot this yr as a result of their under-performing automotive
Lewis Hamilton says his standing on the prime of Formulation 1 makes it “pure” that Max Verstappen drives extra aggressively in opposition to him than different opponents.
Verstappen triumphed in an exciting world championship battle with Hamilton final season to assert his maiden title after a number of collisions with the seven-time world champion throughout a fractious 2021 marketing campaign.
Pink Bull’s dominance and Mercedes’ lack of tempo this yr have led to an absence of encounters on monitor for the rivals in 2022, however with the Silver Arrows lastly catching up in current weeks, Verstappen and Hamilton clashed in final weekend’s Sao Paulo GP, with the Dutchman receiving a five-second penalty for inflicting the collision.
Talking in Abu Dhabi forward of this weekend’s season finale, on the scene of the hugely-controversial victory that secured Verstappen the title final yr, Hamilton was requested if he expects the rivalry to proceed to throw up controversial moments.
He replied: “Almost certainly. I believe I will adapt.
“You have seen in earlier years that I attempt to keep away from [contact] in situations.
Verstappen and Hamilton collide on the Sao Paulo GP after the race restarted following the Security Automotive
“I am certain we’ll develop, either side will develop and enhance hopefully so we do not have experiences like we did within the final race, however I would not maintain your breath.”
Hamilton was then requested in a follow-up query if he thinks the explanation for Verstappen’s significantly aggressive driving type in opposition to him is due to his standing as the game’s most profitable driver of all time.
The 37-year-old smiled, earlier than replying: “I believe yeah, you are most likely proper.
“I keep in mind after I first acquired to the game and your goal is the man that has probably the most championships. It was Fernando (Alonso), then it was Kimi (Raikkonen), as a result of Kimi was among the best drivers right here, after which it was Seb (Vettel), so I believe it is pure.”
Hamilton doesn’t take into consideration final season’s Abu Dhabi GP and isn’t targeted on stuff behind him
Hamilton additionally revealed the one time he had an “in-depth” dialog with Verstappen was when he tried to influence him to take a knee alongside him to help the Black Lives Matter motion in 2020, which the Dutchman selected to not.
“I do not suppose there’s something deeper within the background, as a result of we have by no means actually had an in-depth dialog,” Hamilton stated.
“The one time we have had an in-depth dialog truly was when in 2020 in Austria after I went to him to talk to him about what Black Lives Matter meant and the way a lot it will imply if he have been to help that.
“I attempted to clarify what it seems like and why we have been combating, and what it is about. Clearly, it did not make a distinction.”
