Hamilton delivers verdict on Verstappen-Norris-Piastri title battle
Photo: Race Pictures
Updated:
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Olly Darcy is an editor at GPblog, specializing in Formula 1 news. With a background in sports journalism, he delivers timely and reliable coverage of the sport.
Lewis Hamilton has weighed in on the intriguing title battle that is playing out, stating that "being the hunter is much easier than being the defender".
"You have got three incredibly talented drivers. I can't predict how they're all going to behave."- Lewis Hamilton
After the Mexico City Grand Prix, a dominant weekend for Lando Norris saw the Brit regain the lead in the drivers' standings for the first time since the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, overtaking teammate Oscar Piastri by one point.
A charging Max Verstappen saw his three wins in four races run be capped off with an unexpected podium, but with the experience of the four-time world champion, Hamilton knows what the role of the hunter can do in the title battle.
"It's great to see that we have got this massive battle going on now, and I'm just like you, I don't know what really to expect," the seven-time world champion explained to Sky Sports.
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Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen battled for the title in 2021in one of the closest title fights in history - Photo: Race Pictures
"You have got three incredibly talented drivers. I can't predict how they're all going to behave, but of course, Max has won it four times, so he knows what it's like and being the hunter is much easier than being the defender.
"When you're in the lead and someone's chopping away at your lead, that plays on you more than if you're chasing. If you're chasing, you have nothing to lose, as opposed to when you're in the lead, you have everything to lose.
"It'll be interesting to see how they handle it. We'll all witness that, and whatever the case, it's going to be exciting."
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Norris becomes the hunted
Thanks to a sixth race win of the season, his first win since the Hungarian Grand Prix, Norris regained the lead in the drivers' championship with four races remaining, including two sprint races.
Just a point behind him, a struggling Oscar Piastri drops down to P2, with back-to-back P5 finishes, seeing him drop down the standings amid his four-race stretch without a podium place.
Despite Norris' win, Verstappen continues his charge in the title battle with a P3 finish in Mexico, closing the gap to Piaatri once again, now just 36 points off an improbable title win.
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