Hamilton certain about Verstappen's fear amid talk of future Red Bull F1 move

23 November 2023 , 15:14

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Lewis Hamilton is sure Max Verstappen wouldn't want to race against him at Red Bull (Image: Getty Images)

Lewis Hamilton is sure Max Verstappen would hate going up against him in the same car.

Christian Horner dropped a bomb on the eve of this weekend's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix by claiming Hamilton contacted his team over a potential switch. But the seven-time world champion came out fighting and accused the Red Bull team principal of "stirring things".

Such a deal would have brought about the mouth-watering prospect of watching Hamilton and Verstappen go up against one another within the same team. But while it would be a box office attraction for fans, Hamilton in convinced that his rival would not be happy about such a situation.

"I don't know if there's a bond, but I'd be more than happy to race against Max in the same car," the Mercedes driver told reporters in the Abu Dhabi paddock, before taking a quick dig at the Red Bull racer. He added: "But I don't think he wants me to be his team-mate."

Earlier on, in the TV pen, Hamilton had denied the suggestion that he was looking to quit Mercedes earlier this year before signing his two-year contract extension. He said: "I don't really get where that story has come from. I don't know what he is talking about because, as far as I am aware, nobody from my team has spoken to him. I haven't really spoken to him in years.

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"He did reach out to me earlier in the year about meeting up but that's it. I congratulated him on an amazing year and said I hoped I would be fighting with Red Bull in the coming years. That was it, there was no confidential discussion.

"I think he is just stirring things, he loves that kind of stuff. I would be more than happy to race against Max in an equal car but for me, moving from a car that is not so great to a winning car is not a dream for me.

" The dream for me is to start where we are now and build up to winning. That is why I stayed with Mercedes. Red Bull has done an amazing job and is an amazing team and any driver would love to drive for such a great group of people."

Verstappen was snappy when he was questioned about the possibility of going up against Hamilton in the same car. "What would it add to know? It's not happening. You know there's no point to make up stories if it's not happening," was his initial response.

Pressed on the point, the Dutchman went on to make it clear he would have no qualms about taking on any of his rivals in the same car going forward. He added: "I wouldn't mind. Any driver, it doesn't really matter."

Daniel Moxon