Hamilton Accused of Jealousy
Max Verstappen has fired back at Lewis Hamilton's recent comments, suggesting that the seven-time Formula 1 world champion is "jealous" of his current success. Verstappen, who secured his tenth consecutive Grand Prix win at Monza, has also labeled Mercedes as sore losers.
The Battle of Words
Before the race weekend, Hamilton, 38, downplayed Verstappen's accomplishments, stating that he was not more impressed than when previous greats like Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso were leading. He also claimed that Verstappen has not faced strong opponents like he has, disregarding the Dutchman's teammates over the years.
A Slight at Superstar Teammates
Since Verstappen joined Red Bull in 2016, he has had Daniel Ricciardo, Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, and Sergio Perez as teammates. In contrast, Hamilton has competed against Button, Alonso, and Rosberg. However, Verstappen's teammate, Perez, currently sits behind him in the driver standings by a massive 145 points.
Verstappen Strikes Back
When asked about Hamilton's comments, Verstappen didn't hold back and took a verbal jab at his former rival. He suggested that Hamilton might be envious of his success but stated that it made no difference to him. Verstappen also criticized Mercedes for struggling to handle defeat after their years of dominance.
Keeping a Poker Face
Sky Sports pundit Martin Brundle expressed surprise at Hamilton's strong remarks, speculating that the British driver was deliberately not giving Verstappen any satisfaction. Brundle acknowledged the talent of Ricciardo and Perez, emphasizing that Hamilton is determined not to reveal any vulnerability.
Impressive Feats
Brundle highlighted the extraordinary achievements of both Hamilton and Verstappen, with the former earning 103 victories and the latter currently dominating the field. He praised Verstappen's mental strength in consistently performing well in different tracks and weather conditions, while questioning how many points Perez has scored during this period.
