Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton went head-to-head in a famously tense championship battle in 2021, but the Red Bull driver insists that the pair share "a lot of respect".
Max Verstappen does not believe that he has a "difficult relationship" with Lewis Hamilton, despite their tense rivalry during the 2021 title battle. The fight between Verstappen and Hamilton for the World Championship featured many controversial moments, with the pair colliding on more than one occasion.
It was Verstappen who went on to win the title in the controversial final laps of the season-closing Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. However, the Dutchman feels that his relationship with Hamilton is "straightforward", though acknowledges that he has closer relationships with other drivers on the grid.
Verstappen on relationship with Hamilton
"I don't think we have a difficult relationship at all," Verstappen told the Daily Mail. "It is quite straightforward. It's just that with others you have a closer relationship. It depends to an extent on how you live your life, and perhaps we are not similar in that regard. "Of course, we had a big rivalry in 2021 but ultimately we do have a lot of respect for each other."
Hopefully we will see some kind of rivalry this year again. It makes the sport much more exciting, and gives an extra layer over a raceweekend.
