Max Verstappen ‘rattled’ Lewis Hamilton in F1 2021 title fight, says Red Bull boss Christian Horner
Verstappen and Hamilton duelled it out in one of the most epic title fights in F1 history in 2021, with the world championship coming down to the last♑ lap of the last race of the season.
Red Bull driver Verstappen ultimately prevailed to clinch his maiden world title, and deny Hamilton a record-breaking eighth drivers’ crown, in the controversial 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:2021 Abu Dhabi showdown.
Speaking to F1’s Beyond The Grid podcast, Horner claimed Verstappen held a psychological a🔥dvantage over Hamilton because he “🤪had nothing to lose”.
“I think arguably, maybe more so in Lewis’ heꩲad,” Horner said when ඣasked if the two drivers got in each other’s heads last season.
“Becaus🎃e he’s the seven-time world champion that has everything to lose. Max is the young kid that’s taking the risks, that’s ꧋throwing everything at it, and got nothing to lose.
“Some of his overtaking last year was stunning and you felt that st💦arted to rattle Lewis, I think.
“We definitely saw after Lewis qualified on pole at Silﷺverstone and Max won the sprint race you saw Lewis, he wasꦆ a bit broken after the sprint race.
“Had Max made 🐽it through Copse, I don’t think they’d have seen him again that afternoon, so there was an air of desperation building in as☂ well.
“It was high stakes stuff and your emotions run high, but it probably affected Lewis🌟 arguably more than Max because, as I say, he’d got more to lose than Max. Max had everything to ꦡgain.”
Hamilton ‘never’ recognised Verstappen’s ability
Horner also spoke about the differences between Verstappen’s bitter rivalry with Hamilton compared to his battle with Ferrari’s 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Charles Leclerc this season.
Verstappen is cruising towards a second successive title and could wrap up the 2022 championship as 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:early as the next race in Singapore.
The Red Bull chief said he cannot recall a time when Hamilton has recognised Verstappen’s talent and believes a “different” respect exists between the reign🦄ing world champion and Leclerc.
“You know, there’s a difference, th꧙eಞre’s perhaps a different respect with Charles,” Horner said.
“Theไy raced each other since [being] kids, and there was a mutual respect. I’ve never once ever heard Lewisܫ recognise Max’s ability.
“And so of course, there was🎐 just a bit more needle to it and you could feel that, and you could sense that between th💞ose two drivers.”
Hamilton was heard describing Verstappen as being “aggressive as hell” during the latest season of Netflix’s Drive to Survive, ♌which documented how the 2021 title fight was soured by several on-track collisions between the pair.
However, Hamilton did praise Verstappen after winning the 2020 Eifel Grand Prix to equal 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Michael Schumacher’s win record.
“He🍸’s such a great talent, he’s so fast and consistent,” Hamilton told Sky Sports🌳.
“So it’s not ea💖sy to beat this young up-and-coming champ.”
Lewis regularly atte🌠nds Grands Prix for mahbx.com around the world. Often reportin🗹g on the action from the ground, Lewis tells the stories of the people who matter in the sport.
