Lewis Hamilton doesn’t really know me: Max Verstappen laughs off 7-time champion’s ‘pressure’ comment

Max Verstappen hit back Lewis Hamilton’s suggestion that the Dutchman is feeling the pressure of being in a title fight with the British seven-time champion by sarcastically saying that it’s “so horrible to fight for a title”. Hamilton won his first championship in 2008 as a 23-year-old with McLaren, in what was his second season. Verstappen is now a veteran of 133 races and in his seventh campaign. (Reuters Photo)HIGHLIGHTSVerstappen said those who knew him could testify how relaxed he wasHamilton had earlier told reporters that he knew from experience what Verstappen was going throughTheir clashes have become the story of the season as Verstappen and Red Bull seek to end seven years of Mercedes dominationMax Verstappen hit back with sarcasm on Thursday after seven times Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton suggested his young Red Bull rival was feeling the pressure of a first title tilt.

“I’m so nervous I can barely sleep,” the Dutch 23-year-old told reporters at the Russian Grand Prix when Hamilton’s comments were put to him.”It’s so horrible to fight for a title. I really hate it,” he added.Verstappen said those who knew him could testify how relaxed he was.”I’m very chilled. It’s the best feeling ever to have a great car where you go into every weekend and you can fight for a win… those comments just show you that he really doesn’t know me,” he said of his Mercedes rival.”Which is fine. I also don’t need to know him, how he is fully. I just focus on myself and I really enjoy it out there in front and hopefully we can do that for a very long time.”Verstappen is five points clear of Hamilton after 14 of 22 rounds but has a three-place grid penalty for Sochi after they collided in the previous race at Monza.Their clashes have become the story of the season as Verstappen and Red Bull seek to end seven years of Mercedes domination and dethrone the most successful driver of all time.Hamilton had earlier told reporters that he knew from experience what Verstappen was going through.”Obviously he won’t admit to it and I’m not going to make an assumption,” the Briton added when asked whether he felt the pressure was starting to catch up with Verstappen.”I’m just saying that I remember what it was like when I had my first one and it definitely mounted up. It was difficult, it was intense, I was going through a lot of different emotions and I didn’t always handle it the best.””That’s to be expected … there’s a lot of self-expectation and pressure because the desire to win is huge. I empathise and understand that.”Hamilton won his first championship in 2008 as a 23-year-old with McLaren, in what was his second season. Verstappen is now a veteran of 133 races and in his seventh campaign.Click here for our site’s complete coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.