Red Bull Boss Blames Lewis Hamilton For Animosity With Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen is of the special talents of Formula 1, without a doubt. The way the Dutchman took over the world of F1 this year, and snatched the championship from the clutches of Lewis Hamilton last year, shows the immense capabilities of the Red Bull driver. However, Christian Horner thinks Lewis Hamilton has never praised the 2021 F1 champion.

In a recent interview with F1’s Beyond The Grid podcast, the Red Bull team principal shared his thoughts on the Mercedes driver and his animosity with Verstappen. In the podcast, Horner conveyed, “I’ve never once heard Lewis recognize Max’s ability.”

Horner further stated the difference between Verstappen racing against Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. Even though they offer supreme racing to the viewers, the way Verstappen races Leclerc or Hamilton is different, shared by Horner.

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On this, the Briton team boss asserted, “There’s a different respect with Charles. They’ve raced each other since kids, and there was a mutual respect.”

How is Max Verstappen way ahead of everyone lately?

The Red Bull driver has thrashed everyone in the last two years when it comes to race wins, pole positions, and podium places. From clinching his first-ever championship last year to almost retaining the trophy this year, the man from the Netherlands has come a long way.

As of 2021, Verstappen has picked up 10 wins, 10 pole positions, and 18 podium places. Any driver near him was Lewis Hamilton with eight wins, five pole positions, and 17 podiums. The level of performance has increased two-fold as the Dutchman has already picked up 11 wins in just 16 races.

Moreover, four pole positions and 13 podiums with six races to go have given the Red Bull star a mammoth 116 points cushion against Charles Leclerc. Sadly, two races ended in DNF for Verstappen, otherwise, the counts might have been different. In 2022, only Charles Leclerc managed to challenge Verstappen’s domination with three race wins, eight poles and seven podiums.

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All in all, Max Verstappen looks unstoppable this season. With his chances to wrap up the 2022 F1 championship in the coming race in Singapore, this season can surely be his, there’s hardly a doubt about it.