Verstappen: 'Hamilton and I don't have a difficult relationship'

That things do not always go well between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen is no secret. In 2021, the rivalry reached its peak, both drivers possessed a powerful car and the fight was definitely on. In the end, Verstappen walked away with his first world title. Despite the many controversial incidents that took place between the two, the Dutchman is not negative about the seven-time world champion.

Hamilton can hardly compete with Verstappen these days: Mercedes has been struggling with aerodynamics problems since last season and after the Bahrain Grand Prix it does not look like they have made much progress for this season. It is even a challenge for Hamilton to be able to make the top three with this car. Despite this, Verstappen praises the Briton's performance, telling the Daily Mail:

"He is definitely up there as one of the greatest drivers ever. I have no need or desire to deny that. Consistency is his key, and staying on top of his game. That is not so hard when you are so talented; it doesn’t take a lot of effort to do that. The way he has managed his championships is very impressive. He has stood up when he needed to and made the difference."

'We don't have a difficult relationship'

The two-time world champion also does not believe he and Hamilton have a difficult relationship. He simply has a better relationship with others. "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," Verstappen said.