'Verstappen wanted to knock Hamilton off throne, he raced differently in 2022'

That Max Verstappen has been so dominant this season, according to Sky Sports analysts, he owes not only to a fast RB18, but also to the way he approached races. Karun Chandhok and David Croft agree that competing against Lewis Hamilton was a lot more intense because there was more than just a world title at stake.

"Max relaxed the more the car got reliable, the more he knew he was in a machine he didn't have to push as hard in 2021. But he also raced differently against his championship challenger here than he did in 2021, which I think helped Max as well," Croft stated on his employer's website.

Chandhok argues that beating Hamilton last year was a bit of a prestige thingy for Verstappen. "Lewis is the king of the castle and he has been this generation," says Chandhok. "Max felt that he had to assert himself against Lewis, knock him off his throne. Whereas he sees Charles, George [Russell], Carlos [Sainz] as his peers and that's why he races them differently."

Verstappen vs Hamilton in 2022

Only once in 2022 did Verstappen and Hamilton actually meet in an (equal) fight. That was at the Brazilian Grand Prix. Verstappen wanted to overtake his rival on the outside so that he would be on the inside for the next corner. However, the seven-time world champion slammed the door, damaging both men. In the end, Verstappen was blamed by the stewards and given a time penalty.