Seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton said Red Bull rival Max Verstaffen “did a great job”. And was proud of his achievements this season to win his second title. Verstappen, 25, won his second consecutive title with four races remaining last month. The Dutchman and Hamilton battled until the last lap of the 2021 final, with Verstappen. Winning after former race director Michael Masi controversially changed the safety car restart procedure.
This year, Red Bull have far outplayed Hamilton’s Mercedes team, with Verstappen winning 14 out of 20 races. “I thought he did a great job and did his best,” Hamilton told at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix on Thursday. The 37-year-old Briton, who is yet to win this year, added: “He’s proud of what he’s done. I know what it feels like to be in that position.”
Hamilton said
Red Bull also won the World Constructors’ Championship for the first time since 2013 after eight consecutive Mercedes championships, 40 points behind second-placed Ferrari (Ferrari second). Hamilton said second place was important to the team staff as it meant a bigger bonus as Britain faces a cost of living crisis with skyrocketing energy costs.
“I heard it and I can see how emotional and important it is to them,” he said. Hamilton, who was named an honorary citizen of Brazil by the House of Representatives. This week, visited the slums of Rio de Janeiro to meet children in social projects. The Briton, who attended a promotional event for next year’s Grand Prix in Las Vegas last week, said he was happy to be in Brazil and not Nevada. Hamilton won the Interlagos circuit in São Paulo three times before becoming world champion for the first time in 2008.
Hamilton about his 2021 championship rival
In 2021, the competition between them was fierce as they tried their best to beat each other for the driver’s title. Verstappen took first place in controversial circumstances and neither side has said much about their opponents since. Last month, Verstappen said in an interview that he knew Hamilton had not mentioned him directly. “People said he wouldn’t use my name,” the Dutchman said. “I’ve always known that in sports you have to respect people’s achievements. I have no problem with what Lewis has accomplished. He’s one of the best.”
Ahead of this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix, Hamilton broke his habit and expressed his feelings on Verstaffen and Red Bull’s performance this season. “I can’t say I didn’t have time to study every aspect of what Max did this year,” he told reporters in São Paulo, but I think he did a great job. “He did everything he had to do. The team gave him a great car and he delivered a lot every weekend. He takes pride in his work. I know what it’s like to be in that position.
“He has the chance to win a lot of races in the next two games, so if we can’t stop him or Ferrari can’t stop him, he can set the record he’s set now. Needless to say, he did a great job.”