SM
Watford vs. Leeds: 10 hrs 31 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

Lewis Hamilton warns Max Verstappen it is "game on"

:Headline: Lewis Hamilton warns Max Verstappen it is 'game on':
Lewis Hamilton has won two of the opening three races, with Max Verstappen victorious in the other.
Sports Mole

Lewis Hamilton has told Max Verstappen it is “game on” as Formula One’s title rivals gear up for the fourth chapter of their championship battle in Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix.

Hamilton holds an eight-point advantage over Verstappen following his second win of the season in Portugal last weekend.

Red Bull started the year with the speediest machinery, but there was an all-too-familiar look to the top of the timesheets at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya on Friday as Hamilton led team-mate Valtteri Bottas in an ominous Mercedes one-two.

Verstappen finished only ninth after he was forced to abandon his hot lap when he ran wide at the new left-handed turn 10.

Verstappen, already 0.134 seconds slower than Hamilton before the error, elected not to run again, thus handing the initiative to Mercedes.

The Dutchman will mark his 100th appearance for Red Bull on Sunday. Verstappen was only 17 when he was handed his debut by Toro Rosso in 2015.

The following year he was promoted to Red Bull, winning for the team in Spain in his maiden drive after Hamilton and Nico Rosberg crashed out.

“Max has more experience now and he is clearly incredibly hungry to win more races and to win this championship so it is game on,” said Hamilton.

“That’s what we are here to do, to race, to be fighting for wins, and the battles that we have had in these first few races have been amazing. I am excited to enjoy more.

“It is crazy to think there are still 20 races to go, and you are seeing the closest battle we have had for some time.

“Max has a championship-winning car and a championship-winning team who can pull off the job if we don’t do ours. From my side, experience will help, but we have to get the job done.”

Verstappen’s championship pedigree will face another stern examination in Barcelona.

Rosberg, the only driver who has been able to stop Hamilton from winning the title in the past seven seasons, believes the Briton’s rival is making too many mistakes.

Verstappen could have started from pole at all of the opening three races but for hiccups in qualifying.

He performed an illegal overtake on Hamilton while dicing for the win at the season opener in Bahrain and then allowed Hamilton to cruise past him in Portimao after running wide while in pursuit of leader Bottas.

Verstappen might also be alarmed by Hamilton’s track record in Spain. The seven-time world champion has not lost at the circuit soil since his collision with Rosberg in 2016.

“We have managed to do a better job, but we cannot continue to rely on mistakes by the others,” added Hamilton, who will be out to claim the 100th pole position of his career on Saturday.

“Personally, I am really happy with my output so far. You are always trying to raise the bar, and to make as few mistakes as possible, and that is something that is very difficult to do.”

For now, their rivalry is amicable, but both Mercedes and Red Bull team principals Toto Wolff and Christian Horner do not expect the niceties will last.

But Verstappen said: “Our relationship is very relaxed. We get on very well and when you respect each other and when you can say to each other, the other one has done a better job, that is important.

“We will fight hard but they will, too, which is good for the sport.”

body check tags ::

amp_article__446441 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-05-07 15:38:49:
html db last update - 2021-05-07 15:08:13 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html

Click here for more stories about Max Verstappen

Click here for more stories about Mercedes

Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Max Verstappen Lewis Hamilton Nico Rosberg Valtteri Bottas Formula 1
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
Liverpool 'resigned to missing out on top managerial candidate'
Mainoo, Rashford, Palmer handed boost in Euro 2024 hopes?
Man City quoted £86m for "exceptional" Newcastle man?

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Man City quoted £86m for "exceptional" Newcastle man?

1

MC

Arsenal 'suffer blow in pursuit of PSG attacker'

2

A'

Friday's Transfer Talk Update: Maguire, Nwaneri, Elliott

3

FT

Man Utd could raise £105m through player sales this summer

4

MU

Mainoo, Rashford, Palmer handed boost in Euro 2024 hopes?

5

MR

Pochettino calls for "calm" over Sterling situation at Chelsea

6

PC

Preview: Brentford vs. Man Utd - prediction, team news, lineups

7

PB

Arsenal 'optimistic over triple injury boost for Man City clash'

8

A'

Preview: Barcelona vs. Las Palmas - prediction, team news, lineups

9

PB

Man City injury, suspension list vs. Arsenal - De Bruyne, Stones and more

10

MC


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .