Lewis Hamilton, once a dominant force in Formula One history, has experienced a steady decline in his career in recent years. With the entry of Max Verstappen into F1, the Dutch driver has consistently secured victories, overshadowing Hamilton’s previous dominance.
While numerous reports have suggested an unspoken rivalry between the two drivers, both Hamilton and Verstappen have denied the existence of such tensions. Recently, Hamilton commented on Christian Horner’s dull reaction to Verstappen’s ongoing string of victories, noting that there appears to be a lack of enthusiasm.
Lewis Hamilton shares candid thoughts on Red Bull
The seven-time World Champion has not secured a victory since the penultimate round of 2021 in Saudi Arabia. Things started going south for the Briton when Verstappen stepped into the Formula One competition.
On the other hand, the Dutch driver has won 43 of the last 65 races, stretching back to the beginning of his maiden championship-winning season. As the second anniversary of the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi GP approaches, Hamilton was eager to break his longest winless streak. However, it was reported that another rookie driver will replace the British for the practice session due to one of the rules conducted by the FIA. Details about the rule are explained in another article.
"I even hear it in Christian Horner’s voice when Max wins, he doesn’t know what to say. He’s like: ‘Here we go again. Good job, Max. Good job.’"#LewisHamilton #MaxVerstappen #F1 https://t.co/ZQkwdw6Aog
— PlanetF1 (@Planet_F1) November 21, 2023
Hamilton also believes that Christian Horner’s reactions to Verstappen’s victories over the team radio indicate that the thrill of winning diminishes over time. He said, “The excitement goes, but when you first get that win, it’s amazing. But if you have it all the time, it’s not the same.”
Nevertheless, Hamilton faced backlash for his obsession with Verstappen, with fans criticizing him for continuously checking up on his rival. Some argued that he should focus more on enhancing his performance than closely monitoring the Red Bull driver’s post-race radio conversations.
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen’s on-track rivalry
The intense rivalry between Hamilton and Verstappen is likely to be a captivating topic of conversation as they age, offering an interesting narrative to reflect upon in the future. The bitter competition between the drivers was revealed in 2021 as they fiercely battled for the title of World Champion.
Verstappen and Hamilton racing each other in FP1, has me missing their rivalry and battle between them. pic.twitter.com/ATVYPJfuk5
— L (@rbrblis) May 6, 2023
Marked by serious on-track incidents and intense comments, the rivalry has evolved into one of the most significant in Formula One history. During an interview with Motorsport, the three-time World Champion spoke about his on-track rivalry with Hamilton. He said, “I always respect Lewis a lot for what he has achieved in the sport, but that’s why I don’t understand why we cannot race like I’ve been doing with the others,” by stating that he does not have any personal issue with the driver and the competition is merely being professional for both drivers.
What are your opinions on the competition between the two drivers? Let us know in the comment section below.
