There has been a lot of talk this season about the mental aspect of the battle between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. Opinions are divided as to who handles it best, but most still point to the Brit.
This is what almost all journalists in the article on Formula1.com also. Chris Medland sees that at the moment Hamilton knows how to deal with everything outside the circuit a lot better than the Dutchman.
"Right now, Hamilton. It's impossible to say otherwise. I don't think Red Bull's war of words in the press is helping to keep Max's focus where it needs to be. As Hamilton and Mercedes have been preaching for years, you need to focus on yourself and yourself alone. Let the others do what they want, you just have to do your best and focus on that alone."
Verstappen snarls at journalists
Will Buxton saw Verstappen lose the mental battle off the track especially over the last two race weekends.
"Hamilton is using his vast experience to come out on top here. He's well-schooled in playing the long game, which is why he was the one who pulled out to avoid getting together with Verstappen in Imola, Portimao and Barcelona. And in the aftermath of their Silverstone clash, Hamilton was relaxed, while Verstappen seemed to crack under pressure and snarl at journalists when discussing the incident."
In two weeks' time, the battle between Verstappen and Hamilton will continue in Belgium. This will be followed by a race in the Netherlands. Both circuits will be mostly filled with fans of Verstappen.
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CHRIS MEDLAND is 100%correct. At was RB AND FORMULA ONE drivers particularly those retired forcefully and some who are in course of the competition with SIR Lewis have resorted to character assassination mixed with racial prejudice. What a pity.
Whatever GPblog
If you are a BS Champion and Max is 36 points ahead.....Lewis is the one that was and is cracking..........
Yes, he's cracked all the way to the lead with his aggressive driving and team blowing smoke up his behind for extra boost.
And just to rub it in Lewis haters,he was a rookie in 2007 and lost by 1 point to Raikonnen who was driving in a superior ferrari and lewis went on to win in 2008 and again just to remind the haters that ferrari won the constructors championship with a superior car but Lewis still Triumphed.
Hamilton will win an 8th title so haters prepare yourselves because by the end if the year yourll will be turning green with envy and next year when Russel joins then you can switch from a Verstappen fan to a Russel fan....but nevertheless he will have broke almost all F1 records. So lol Lewishaters I feel for you guys
Every journalist is entitled to their opinion and you only need to read Jeremy Clarkson's earlier piece on LH after his podium theatrics at Hungary for a more accurate summation of Lewis Hamilton.
Definitely HAM has the edge but the battle is far from over. The holiday won't help MERC as it broke their momentum, this may just be the silver lining for Max.
Let's see how Spa pans out if Merc takes that one then it will be hard for RBR but not impossible
British F1 journalist supportive of British F1 driver what a shock.
Shutting the journalist down for the idiotic question had no effect on the outcome of Hungary. Max was after all taken out by Hams's teammate.
Imola, Portugal, Spain weren't Hams playing safe. it was Max using superior racecraft to gain track position.
Track position, which Max had at Silverstone going into Copse, but Hams took Max out anyway.
Hams only saved by the red flag otherwise the boy genius would have had to retire.
What a load of biased, british media garbage.
So Max expressed some warranted anger at the press meeting and that concludes Hamilton is winning the mental battle?
There is no doubt the reality of it all is that Hamilton is not coping at all with Max's success this season as evident how many mistakes he making under the pressure and it will get worse.
"Hamilton is using his vast experience to come out on top here. He's well-schooled in playing the long game, which is why he was the one who pulled out to avoid getting together with Verstappen in Imola, Portimao and Barcelona. And in the aftermath of their Silverstone clash, Hamilton was relaxed, while Verstappen seemed to crack under pressure and snarl at journalists when discussing the incident."
I can't add much to this statement. I have been saying the very same thing after the crash. When you sum up the season thus far, Silverstone glares at you.
MAX was not able to change his mindset from the hunter to the hunted, from the title challenger to the WC leader with a 33 points lead .
Max is not only you to be blamed, he has a team around him that feed the wrong narrative.
The RB fans will be going about SLH took Max out ,VB took the RB out . From there perspective its true.
The facts though is RB should not be in this point deficit, they as team have not ,tactically keep ahead of the F1 game. Get the points in the bag,cause when you get taken out Max not backing off .
You go into the rest of the season blaming Mercedes for your points deficit, cost cap issue's engine penalties.
Miss the lesson, and in doing that RB is gonna be bond to repeat the errors in tactics.
Now Mr Carrots is jumping in with his usual gibberish.
I would have thought despite being local favoritism for only a 10 sec penalty it was still confirmation Lulu was at fault. Should have been disqualified 100%.
On top of that more gibberish suggesting Lulu is leading because of his phenomenal racing skills.
Alonso put pay to that myth.
@Stevesyd I never said that in my post.
SLH is not the best driver on the track this season. MAX is.
Max is younger and talented, SLH is ending his career wanting that 8 title.
SLH is leading because, of Silverstone. I am not excusing SLH part in Max not scoring points. . I am saying 33 points ahead , there was no need for the risk reward ,on coming out ahead at Cops.
For me a its difficult to win a WC if your mindset is win at all cost ,that will always risk points scored, and with that sort of lead ,WC lost.
I acknowledge you point ,you have to acknowledge I have point as well .
RB has to learn from this , but they are now chasing again.
And I bet you were one of the Hamilton fans that jumped and screamed with uncontrollable, ecstatic jubilation when you witnessed Max hit the barrier at 51G's.
What were you truly thinking when you witnessed Lulu take 10 laps to pass Alonso despite a 3.5 sec advantage as well? I know. He must be suffering from the ongoing effects of covid 19.
Jeremy Clarkson summed him up perfectly.
The thing is, the Formula1.com article is written from an English perspective. If an Englishman would react like Max did, that would be quite strange. Look at Hamilton, always the diplomat. However Max is reacting as a Dutchman; the Dutch call that honest and direct and applaud him for telling off the journalist. To an Englishman it’s crass and seen as “snarling”. Just cultural differences. Tells you nothing about the mental state of either driver. You want to learn about their mental stability? Don’t try to interpret the press conference content - pay attention to the race audio. That is when they are under stress.
I don't think Max cracked under pressure, but was really disappointed and upset, which is fully understandable. I also don't know Dutch people a lot but dont think that the majority of Dutch people talk as Max with all the swearing etc, didn't he show his finger to a journalist once and also threatened to leave the presser in he had a particular question? He is quite arrogant, it's just his personality, nothing about cracking under pressure in my view
Brexit-journalism.......UK first
Nope good honest opinion unless you prefer the Dutch version
Does anyone even really watch the press conferences except the press? No one cares but them. I'm glad that max put that reporter in his place. They think that they can go everywhere and just ask annoying questions again and again due to their so-called phony "freedom of the press"
That’s there job but you would not understand that
They do and they are at times nuisance to pose very provoking question .but media stream speeads your message for better for worse.
He has won it before it began. We are just watching how it unfolded. Max and Redbull played it into their hands. In fact Max has not yet arrived but they made him believed he is capable. Everyone is capable of winning a cup but it takes something else to win more. He should have known he has two more years before he can boldly urge forward. I guess he has blown up his chances by letting his rivals woke up.
This article is a joke??
Will Buxton is a joke.