Verstappen responds to Hamilton: 'Maybe Lewis is a bit jealous'
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Ahead of the Monza Grand Prix weekend, Lewis Hamilton claimed that Max Verstappen's success is somewhat inflated and that his own achievements would not receive the same recognition. Moreover, Verstappen would have had lesser-strength teammates alongside him. Naturally, the reigning world champion was confronted with the statements of his old rival.
Carlos Sainz, Daniel Ricciardo, Pierre Gasly, Alexander Albon, Sergio Perez. None of these names, according to Hamilton, can stand up to names like Fernando Alonso, Heikki Kovalainen, Jenson Button, Nico Rosberg, Valtteri Bottas and George Russell. Speaking to Sky Sports, the 38-year-old Briton stated that not only has he had stronger team-mates, but moreover, he would not have received the same recognition for the times when he had a big lead.
Verstappen responds to Hamilton's sneer
Verstappen is by no means bothered by the Mercedes driver's comments. "Maybe Lewis is a bit jealous of my current success," Verstappen was quoted by Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. "Maybe he thinks he gains something with that, with statements like that, but it makes no difference to me."
The Dutchman may have an explanation for the Briton's statements, though. "I think at Mercedes they find it very difficult to deal with losing, after all those years of winning so much," Verstappen continued. He stresses that at a certain point, one also has to be realistic when it becomes clear that it is simply not in the cards. "Then you have to be able to appreciate what other teams are doing. We always did the same in the years when they were dominant."
Verstappen: "I don't need this kind of thing"
The Red Bull Racing driver explained that his own team has had to work hard to close the gap with Mercedes after the German stable's years of dominance. "You can keep shouting that it's all not so special what we are all doing or have that tone a bit. Maybe they don't always say it, but that's what they think."
According to Verstappen, everyone should be mainly concerned with themselves, after all, you have no influence on the performance of others. " I don't need this kind of thing," concludes the championship leader, who will start the Formula 1 race in Monza from P2, next to polesitter Carlos Sainz.