Reuters
Formula One F1 – United States Grand Prix – Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas, U.S. – October 23, 2022 Red Bull’s Max Verstappen celebrates on the podium after winning the United States Grand Prix with second placed Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton REUTERS/Brian Snyder
Reuters
Formula One F1 – United States Grand Prix – Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas, U.S. – October 23, 2022 Red Bull’s Max Verstappen celebrates on the podium after winning the United States Grand Prix with second placed Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton REUTERS/Brian Snyder
When it rains, it pours, and this is exactly what is happening with Max Verstappen! The Dutchman blew the competition away with a record 15 race wins and a world championship to go along with it. Thanks to the dominant run, Verstappen is collecting awards one after the other. However, when it came to fellow drivers, Verstappen couldn’t get the vote of approval from Lewis Hamilton.
Watch What’s Trending Now!
One can speculate that the Mercedes man would’ve been desperate to take the fight to Verstappen following the events of 2021. Instead, the Brit experienced a difficult and grounding season thanks to the poor state of the W13. We are not sure if there is still any kind of animosity between the two, but there are definite signs of it.
Reuters
Formula One F1 – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – November 17, 2022 Red Bull’s Max Verstappen before the team photo REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger
One sign, one could say, was Hamilton’s non-participation in the driver’s vote to determine the best driver on the grid amongst each other. After collecting the vote for the best driver from the team principals, the grid also voted Verstappen the best. Also similar to the championship, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished behind the Dutchman.
Top Stories
The Mercedes men, Hamilton and Russel, finished joint third in the vote. This was a vote for the drivers from the drivers. However, Hamilton was the only diver to abstain from voting.
Read More: “The Best Ever”: F1 Twitter Bows Down to the Undisputed King as Max Verstappen Bags Yet Another Accolade
One could read into it and say there is still animosity between the two drivers because Verstappen is the only choice. Or we can take Hamilton’s word for it.
Lewis Hamilton opens up about his relationship with Max Verstappen
After the 2021 heavyweight bout, there was a lot of drama surrounding the two world champions. However, Hamilton put an end to all the rumors and speculation while talking to Sky Sports F1.
Getty
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – DECEMBER 12: Race winner and 2021 F1 World Drivers Champion Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing is congratulated by runner-up in the race and championship Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP during the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on December 12, 2021 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Mario Renzi – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)
He said, “For me and Max when we see each other in the paddock, things are normal. We’re fighters out there. There are no friends on the track. What is really important is that when we get out [of the car], we are human beings and we keep that respect.”
WATCH THIS STORY: Bromance moments between Max Verstappen & Lewis Hamilton
Vote or not, there is plenty of respect between the two, despite the on-track rivalry. Just another Formula 1 rivalry!
Written by
Edited by
Varunkumaar Chelladurai