F1 News: Max Verstappen Responds To Lewis Hamilton's Rivalry Comments
Max Verstappen has taken the opportunity to clear the air regarding the recent comment made by Lewis Hamilton, who said, “Maybe he has a problem with me”. The Red Bull driver has emphasised that there are no hard feelings between the drivers in the Formula One community, and that every driver enjoys each other's company. The end-of-year dinner in Abu Dhabi, where the drivers gathered to celebrate Sebastian Vettel’s retirement, was a testament to that.
The upcoming 2023 Formula One season promises to be an exciting one, especially with the rivalry between Verstappen and Hamilton expected to heat up, especially if Hamilton has a car capable of challenging Verstappen for the championship. This only adds to the personal history between the two drivers, which will likely come under the microscope again.
When asked about Hamilton’s comment, Verstappen replied:
“I don’t have an issue with anyone. We all sat at that dinner in Abu Dhabi and we all had a laugh with everyone, we all had a good time. So that's okay."
Red Bull has launched their RB19 car for the 2023 season in New York, which they hope will power Verstappen to his third consecutive championship win. Meanwhile, Mercedes will launch Hamilton and George Russell's W14 on February 15.
With both teams and drivers bringing their A-game to the table, it is sure to be an exciting season filled with thrilling races and intense competition. The season starts with the Bahrain Grand Prix on 3-5 March with the pre-season testing the week before. The season will consist of a record-breaking 23 races including the new Las Vegas Grand Prix in November.
February is filled with many important F1 dates with the teams unveiling their 2023 liveries, the pre-season testing, and the release of Netflix's Drive To Survive season five.