Verstappen and Hamilton warmed up the environment on the Russian Grand Prix

The Dutchman arrived within the Eurasian nation with 5 factors greater than the British

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Drivers Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen exchanged statements yesterday earlier than the Russian Grand Prix, lower than two weeks after a crash that left the 2 rivals for the Components One title out of the final race.

Hamilton, a seven-time champion, instructed Verstappen is feeling the stress of combating for what can be his first title.

“I bear in mind what it was prefer to combat for my first championship, and clearly I am combating my tenth battle, one thing like that,” commented the British Mercedes driver. Verstappen dismissed Hamilton’s feedback.

The 2 collided halfway by the ultimate race in Italy, permitting Daniel Ricciardo to take an surprising victory for McLaren. Mercedes crew principal Toto Wolff mentioned the protecting machine round Hamilton’s cockpit saved the Briton’s life when Verstappen’s automotive handed over his head. Verstappen obtained a three-place grid penalty for the race in Russia after he was deemed at fault for the crash.

“It isn’t ideally suited, but it surely’s not the top of the world both,” he mentioned. It was the second time the 2 collided this 12 months after the same incident on the British GP. On that event, Verstappen ended up in hospital. Hamilton obtained a 10-second penalty, however ended up profitable the race.

Verstappen has a five-point lead over Hamilton within the total standings with 5 races left within the season.

It will get tighter and there may be extra stress; The duel for the Components 1 world title between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen strikes to Russia, from at the moment to Sunday, on a circuit wherein Mercedes stays undefeated. When F1 first got here to Sochi in 2014, the Briton gained within the southern Russian metropolis 4 occasions, leaving the remaining three victories to his teammates Nico Rosberg (1) and Valtteri Bottas (2).

Due to this fact, Verstappen, who faces this fifteenth spherical of the 22 that make up the World Championship with a 5-point lead, may depart the Russian occasion behind the Briton.

SO HE SAID IT

“I really feel so nervous that I can barely sleep. It is horrible to combat for a title, I actually hate it. These feedback simply present that he does not actually know me, which is ok. I needn’t know him both, what he is like in his entirety, however I solely concentrate on myself and I actually take pleasure in being there on the entrance,” the Dutchman mentioned mockingly.