Lewis Hamilton has thrown some more shade at Formula 1 rival Max Verstappen amid what is a growing feud between the two stars.
Hamilton and Verstappen are the biggest names on the F1 scene at the moment and it appears there’s no love lost where they’re concerned.
Things are likely to intensify following what Hamilton said about Verstappen on Friday.
While Hamilton is widely considered to be the greatest driver of all time and is a seven-time series champion at 38, Verstappen is already tugging at his heels at just 25 years old. The latter is the two-time defending series champion who went down to the final race with Hamilton in a 2021 thriller.
The Belgian is also the runaway leader in this year’s standings with Red Bull Racing, which looks to be unstoppable at the moment. It doesn’t look like there will be any slowing down anytime soon.
“Ultimately, it’s likely that bit by bit, by the end of the year, we’ll catch Red Bull, but that’s only because they’re already focusing on next year’s car because they’re so far ahead,” Hamilton said before the Australian grand Prix in July.
“They don’t have to make any changes to this year’s car any more because they’re so far ahead, just cruising 100 points ahead of us. I think the FIA should put a time when everyone is allowed to start development on their next car.”
Verstappen would point out that Hamilton didn’t call for this when his Mercedes team was at the top.
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The latest dig from Hamilton saw the Brit point to a lack of competition from Verstappen’s teammates.
“In my personal opinion, Valtteri [Bottas], and actually all my teammates, have been stronger than the teammates that Max has had,” he said on Friday. “You know, Jenson [Button], Fernando, George [Russell], Valtteri, Nico [Rosberg]. You know, all these guys have all been very strong, very consistent, and Max is not racing against anyone like that.”
Hamilton won two championships as a teammate of Nico Rosberg, with the other five coming alongside Heikki Kovalainen and Valtteri Bottas, who have never won a series championship.
