Verstappen expects less heated battle than with Mercedes: "More respect"

The 2022 Formula One season is still more or less in its early stages, yet there is clearly a different atmosphere between the rival teams of Red Bull Racing and Ferrari. Jos Verstappen also sees a more "relaxed" battle with Charles Leclerc than the one with Lewis Hamilton last year.

Tempers flared several times between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton as the drivers battled it out for the 2021 world title. The same played out between Red Bull team boss Christian Horner and Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff. The battle acquired a bitter aftertaste early in the season, but there is no question of that this year for the time being.

Jos Verstappen is therefore convinced that the rivalry between them cannot possibly be as high as last year. "On that level, it's all much more relaxed now with Ferrari," he says in conversation with The Telegraph.

Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto did make a pinprick after the defeat in Miami by stating that Red Bull had spent more money on updates. Verstappen believes these statements may have been somewhat inflated, as the teams obviously have no insight into each other's bank accounts. "There is more respect than last year," he observes.