Hamilton compliments Verstappen: 'Delivered pretty much every weekend'

Hamilton and Verstappen are not exactly friends, especially after their title fight in 2021. Still, there is mutual respect between the two drivers. For instance, Verstappen is often respectful about the multiple world titles the Mercedes driver has won in his career, but vice versa is also the case now.

Respect for Verstappen

''I can't say that I've had time to like study every aspect of what Max has done this year, but I think he's done an amazing job. He's done everything he had to do. The team provided him with an amazing car, and he's delivered pretty much every weekend,'' Hamilton said opposite ESPN.

''He can be proud of the job he has done. I know how it feels to be in a position like that, I mean he's got a chance to win more races, the next two races, so he could take that record that he's now taken even further if we can't stop him or Ferrari can't stop him.''

Hamilton hopes to be able to put a stop to it himself, though, as the Briton is still aiming for his first win of the season in 2022. Since Hamilton debuted in F1 in 2007, he has managed to win a race every year, but he has yet to do so. As a team, Mercedes too has yet to win a single race this year, after eight constructors' championships in a row.