Max Verstappen celebrating with his team in Austin - Photo: RacePictures

Hamilton's 'cut-throat Verstappen' advice for Norris and Piastri

14:27, 24 Oct

Updated: 14:30, 24 Oct

byNorberto Mujica

According to Lewis Hamilton, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris need to be "cut-throat" like Max Verstappen is, in the championship fight.

Also you really have to be cut-throat. That's what Max is, he's going to take this from them if they don't do the same.

- Lewis Hamilton

If there's anyone who knows Max Verstappen's championship fighting grit is Hamilton after the two were locked in a season-long title fight in the 2021 campaing.

When asked if he had any advice for both McLaren drivers in the championship fight, the Ferrari driver urged both title hopefuls to be more like Verstappen.

Hamilton said: "I mean obviously they have won other championships in other categories. I'm not one to really want to give advice to them but, in that scenario, it's challenging when you're in the team. The pressure is high.

Oscar Piastri after qualifying P6 at the United States GP - Photo: RacePictures

"It's definitely a time where you really have to put your blinkers up, you have to block absolutely everything from the outside, all this because there's so much coming in, positive and negative.

"Also you really have to be cut-throat. That's what Max is, he's going to take this from them if they don't do the same.

"They've got to be pushing and you have got to dig deep to, firstly, be able to hold off someone like Max and in the car that he's in at the moment.

"But, also, for either of them to come out ahead you know consistency is key and you've seen that from Max in the last few races."

Max Verstappen and Lando Norris shaking hands at COTA - Photo: Race Pictures

The seven-time world champion argues that the addition of Verstappen to the title fight makes the sport more exciting and it gives F1 fans a better reason to tune in on the action, highlighting his own title fight with the Red Bull Racing driver 4 seasons ago.

Hamilton continued: "I think it's great. Having a team [McLaren] that was just out front, obviously they won the constructors' and then having the championship battle within the two [drivers] is still exciting.

"But adding another team and another driver into the mix really makes it even more exciting, and that's really what this sport should be like.

"It was great for me having battles with Max, another team, and the battle development through the year and consistency. I think that's what people tune in to see."

Max Verstappen after United States Grand Prix win. Picture: RacePictures

Piastri refrains from making title prediction

According to the championship leader Oscar Piastri the title battle's outcome won't be determined by McLaren's or Red Bull's car suitability to any track, as it will be a matter of who can extract more overall performance at each venue.

He said in the FIA press conference ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix: "It's very difficult to read. For me, it's very difficult to predict who's going to be strong where.

"If anything, it's more about who maximises their car each weekend rather than whose car suits different things.

"Because there were certain things of Austin that potentially worked well for us, but certain things that didn't and a lot of other circumstances. So it's very, very difficult to judge, but I think it will be close everywhere we go."

Piastri's lead in the championship is of 14 points to Norris, and 40 to Verstappen.

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