Red Bull driver Max Verstappen has opened up on his relationship with rival Lewis Hamilton away from the race track following two years of negligible action against the seven-time world champion on it.
The two drivers were the protagonists of an utterly enthralling 2021 F1 season which ended in controversial fashion as Max Verstappen won his maiden world title.
Although Mercedes looked like the team to beat in the first half of the season, Red Bull made considerable gains in the winter break to give Verstappen a chance of challenging Hamilton. However, the manner in which the Dutchman won the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix saw plenty of controversy.
With everything on the line in the final race of the season, Verstappen was helped by some dubious officiating by former race director Michael Masi in a move that disillusioned many fans and left Hamilton heartbroken.
The Stevenage-born driver is yet to win a race since the 2021 season and although much of it is down to Mercedes’ poor car designs in the past two years, Verstappen has claimed ‘he doesn’t need a rival like Hamilton’.
Verstappen spoke about how he tackles Hamilton and what sort of relationship they share away from the spotlight.
“I don’t need that kind of rivalry,” Verstappen said.
“Of course, we want to beat each other, but honestly, once we’re in a private setting it’s like just normal guys.”
Verstappen has no urge to return to the days of being involved in scrappy tussles with Hamilton and given the sort of advantage the Milton Keynes-based outfit enjoyed last season compared to its rivals, the upcoming season may also see few battles between the duo.
However, Hamilton will hope that trend changes as Mercedes looks to provide him with a challenger that is capable of matching Red Bull.