Lewis Hamilton on getting close to Max Verstappen and why he sympathizes with his Formula One rival over title ‘pressure’

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Lewis Hamilton does not believe Max Verstappen’s penalty will be a deterrent to stop future collisions

Lewis Hamilton does not believe Max Verstappen’s penalty will be a deterrent to stop future collisions

Lewis Hamilton stressed the need for himself and Max Verstappen to “learn from the past” and avoid further collisions as the Englishman opened up about his approach, while also admitting he wondered if his rival was racing differently due to the “pressure” of his first title fight.

Verstappen later responded saying Hamilton “doesn’t know me” after being told the world champion’s comments about dealing with the tension as the pair collided – off the track this time – on Thursday ahead of the Russian Grand Prix.

Hamilton and Verstappen are gearing up for another fight this weekend as the championship competition heats up, speaking to the media 11 days after their latest crash at Monza – where Red Bull ended up massively on top of Mercedes in the gravel. .

With Verstappen taking a three-place penalty this weekend, title challengers have been penalized for collisions this season.

Hamilton told Sky Formula 1 that the penalty was “unlikely” to deter Verstappen, but was careful to avoid a repeat, saying: “In the end we all have to be smart, and know there comes a time when you won’t corner.

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Max Verstappen moved alongside Lewis Hamilton after his stop and the pair collided at the First Chicane, causing their pavement into gravel!

Max Verstappen moved alongside Lewis Hamilton after his stop and the pair collided at the First Chicane, causing their pavement into gravel!

“It’s all about living to fight another day for the next corner. Of course from experience not everything is won in one corner. I hope we don’t have any more accidents during the year.”

But while Hamilton said he had “no doubt we’ll be professionals and learn from the past”, he admitted he did not expect Verstappen to suddenly give way in wheel-to-wheel battles.

“He’s never done that in the past so I don’t expect it to happen,” Hamilton told Craig Slater. “And I think that’s how I’m going to go about things, without expecting it, and just trying to create the space that’s needed.

“I’m sure he will and we will continue to learn.”

Hamilton then added: “I know what it’s like to fight for your first championship, there’s a lot going on and there’s a lot of riding on it too.”

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Dramatic new footage has been released of the potentially defining moment of the season when Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton collided in the Italian Grand Prix

Dramatic new footage has been released of the potentially defining moment of the season when Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton collided in the Italian Grand Prix

Hamilton ‘sympathizes’ with Verstappen | Max: He doesn’t know me

While this is the 23-year-old Verstappen’s seventh season, it is his first where he is a true contender for the Championship, which he currently leads by five points. Hamilton, who was 22 when he first wrestled for the title in 2007, said he sympathized with Verstappen and hinted he was racing differently because of the stress involved.

“I know the stress that comes with it and the experiences that come with it,” Hamilton explained. “Your passion… I went through a lot of different experiences and emotions during that time.”

He continued, “He’s not going to admit it and I’m not going to make an assumption, I’m just saying I remember what it was like when I got the first one and it definitely escalated.

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Natalie Pinkham and Paul Di Resta look forward to the Russian GP weekend from Sochi

Natalie Pinkham and Paul Di Resta look forward to the Russian GP weekend from Sochi

“It was tough, it was intense, I was going through a lot of different emotions, I wasn’t always the best at dealing with it. That’s to be expected, you know, it’s a lot of pressure when you work in a big team, there are a lot of self-expectations and the desire to win is huge. I I sympathize and understand that. I know we will continue to grow from this.”

Hamilton, in his 15th season in Formula One and looking for a record-breaking eighth crown, said the pressure was “much easier to handle now”.

“I’ve been here a long time,” he said, “so it’s easier to deal with.” “In my first year, I was very young and didn’t have the tools to deal with the kind of pressure I was under. It’s a lot different for me. [now]”.

Verstappen said of Hamilton’s comments, joking: “I’m so nervous I can barely sleep! It’s so awful to be fighting for a title, I really hate him…”

Then the tournament leader hit back at his opponent.

“If anyone knows me, I think I’m very comfortable about all these things and can’t really bother me, I’m just too cold,” he said. “It’s the best feeling ever to have a great car where you can go to every weekend and you can fight for victory. It doesn’t matter if you only drive a championship or not.

“These comments just show that he doesn’t really know me. And that’s fine, I also don’t need to know, exactly how he is. I’m just focusing on myself, I’m really enjoying there up front and I hope we can do that for a really long time.”

Hamilton on the condition and hopes of the Russian GP

In the frightening crash at the Italian Grand Prix, Verstappen’s car not only ended up over Hamilton’s car but also made contact with his helmet, the part of Red Bull’s rear wheel that pushed Hamilton’s head forward.

Hamilton said he was in pain after the race but “felt good” ahead of this weekend’s event in Sochi, having undergone physicals and acupuncture on his neck.

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Martin Brundle says Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen know they can’t stand each other the next time they compete on the track

Martin Brundle says Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen know they can’t stand each other the next time they compete on the track

“I feel really lucky,” said Hamilton. “I was so grateful on Monday that I didn’t feel any worse.

“We’ve had a lot of acupuncture, a lot of physical therapy and I think was lucky instead of the weight landing on top of my head, he pushed it forward so it tightened all my muscles. I worked on it and was able to get back training in the middle of the week.”

After he and Verstappen crashed at Monza, Hamilton is still five points behind his rival in the standings, but could reclaim the title lead at a circuit that Mercedes has won every year since 2014.

“It’s very important, as important as it can be,” Hamilton admitted, looking forward to making the most of Verstappen’s penalty.

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Sources

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