P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen has played down the current state of his rivalry with Lewis Hamilton, claiming “in a private setting it’s like just normal guys”.
Verstappen and Hamilton had a highly anticipated battle for the 2021 F1 championship, with Verstappen ultimately winning after a controversial race in Abu Dhabi. Since then, their fortunes have diverged, with Verstappen winning two more titles while Hamilton has not won a single race. While their on-track rivalry has been rare in the past two seasons, they did clash at the 2022 Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Verstappen, when asked about his relationship with Hamilton, stated that outside of racing, they are just normal guys. Verstappen has been predicted to break Hamilton and Schumacher’s record of seven world titles, but he believes that it requires both skill and luck, with a great car and team support being crucial. Nevertheless, Verstappen is focused on staying on top and enjoying the success he has already achieved in Formula 1.
