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MAX VERSTAPPEN has laughed off claims that Lewis Hamilton won’t even say his name.The pair were embroiled in a bitter battle for last year’s world championship… with Hamilton being denied the title by a botching of the rules by then-race director Michael Masi.
Lewis Hamilton has been cordial with Max VerstappenCredit: Rex
Following Verstappen’s controversial victory in Abu Dhabi Masi was axed… although the Dutchman has followed up his success with a much more comfortable title this time around.
With the championship already in the bag going into this evening’s Mexico GP, Verstappen has opened up about his relationship with rival Hamilton.
Speaking to the Mail, the 25-year-old said: “People have told me that he doesn’t use my name.
“I was always taught that you have to respect what people have achieved in sport.
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“I have no problem with what Lewis has achieved. He is one of the best ever.
“I know it is not only the car he has been driving. That helps. We all know that, but you still have to beat your team-mate and Lewis has done that consistently.
“I think you have to acknowledge the person has done an amazing job as well.”
Hamilton, 37, has been cordial with Verstappen this season – performing a polite handshake following confirmation of his victory in Suzoka earlier this month.
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Following Red Bull’s cost cap breach, and Hamilton’s general popularity in the States – Verstappen was greeted in Austin, Texas, last week by boos and cries “cheater”.
In response to the jibes, bullish Max said: “It’s not like football and all the abuse in the stadiums.
“It’s probably just frustration that has built up among fans of their particular driver who is not doing so well, or they don’t like me.
“I am not here to be liked and it’s not going to ruin my day. I am having a great time with my team. People can say what they like, but I am here to perform.”
Verstappen will begin tonight’s Mexico GP on pole position – with Mercedes duo George Russell and Hamilton starting in second and third.
Hometown hero Sergio Perez will get his race underway from fourth position.
Hamilton’s former team-mate Fernando Alonso, who the Brit beat to the world title as a sophomore in 2007, bizarrely hit out at him this week.
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The Spaniard said: “I have a lot of respect for Lewis, but still it is different when you win seven world titles when you only had to fight with your team-mate.
“Then I think a championship has less value than when you have fewer titles but have had to fight against other drivers with equal or even better material.”
Verstappen will start tonight’s race on pole with Hamilton and George Russel just behindCredit: Alamy More

LEWIS HAMILTON was denied pole position for Sunday’s Mexico GP as Max Verstappen took P1.Just days after being hit with a penalty for breaking F1’s cost-cap, the Dutchman provided the perfect boost to his Red Bull team.
World champ Max Verstappen is on pole, ahead of Mercedes duo Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, in Mexico CityCredit: Getty
Hamilton had topped both Q1 and Q2 and it was looking like a hat-trick as he went into the final session.
Sergio Perez drew first blood to bring thousands of fans to their feet while he was soon leapfrogged by Verstappen, who took provisional pole.
Hamilton’s time was only good enough for third – but he then had it deleted for exceeding track limits by the picky stewards.
He then radioed his Mercedes team saying he had “driveability issues” with the “power dropping out”.
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But Hamilton later said: “We were not quite good enough and Red Bulls are so fast but this is the best qualifying we have had this year and it just shows that perseverance and never giving up can pay off.
“I’m quite happy with that position – it’s a long way to Turn 1.”
“Generally my laps have been really good and on he last lap there is more in it and I am happy with that position.”
Verstappen then went even quicker to cement his place in P1 while George Russell qualified in second and Hamilton was third marking the team’s best qualifying performance of the season.
World champ Verstappen said: “It was a good qualifying! It was a close one, and to be on pole again is amazing.
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“After FP3 we made a few adjustments and got the car into a better rhythm.
“We have a quick race car and I am sure it will be a fun race. It will be close and depends on what you can do with strategy.”
But Russell felt Mercdes were unlucky.
He argued: “The team deserved more today. They’ve produced a really great car this weekend and testament to them and the hard work they have been putting in.
“This weekend, it felt like our pole to have and I did a terrible lap at the end. But there are no points in qualifying and glad to be on the front row.”
Perez will start in fourth while Carlos Sainz qualified in fifth ahead of Valtteri Bottas and Charles Leclerc while Lando Norris will start the race in eighth.
Daniel Ricciardo failed to make it into the top 10 and qualified down in 11th place in his McLaren.
Mick Schumacher, who has been put under pressure by his Haas team and told he needs to score points if he wants a new deal for next season, qualified down in 16th place.
The German risks being shown the door after a number of expensive crashes for the team to leave his F1 career hanging in the balance.
He was given the boot at the first hurdle along with Nicholas Latifi, Alex Albon, Lance Stroll and Sebastian Vettel. More

LEWIS HAMILTON says he is in his “happy place” as he starts contract renegotiations with boss Toto Wolff.The 37-year-old has admitted he plans to remain in F1 for the foreseeable future and has not yet put a date on when he will retire from the sport.
Lewis Hamilton is in a good place as he readies himself for the Mexico GPCredit: Getty
This season has been a testing year for the Mercedes man as he came to terms with the controversial end to last season and missing out on the world title to Max Verstappen.
To add to his misery, Mercedes have struggled to get to grips with the performance of their car, but that has not put Hamilton off from pledging his future to the team.
Ahead of the Mexican GP, Hamilton, who already has a contract in place for next year, said: “I have not put a limit on it to be honest. I’m planning to do a multi-year deal with my team.
“I really don’t know what the next five years… we’re still trying to work on that.
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“There are a lot of great things that are being put in place, like I just launched the production company this week, but I feel great in my mind and body.
“It’s been lingering around, this whole narrative of me winding towards the end of my career.
“I’m sure for all of you in your careers and your jobs you probably have to analyse ‘what’s next’?.
“Is there somewhere else you want to go? Is there somewhere higher you want to be? Is there room for growth in that role?
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“I think that was perhaps something for me [to consider]. I’m just in a happy place in my life, a lot more grounded.
“I’ve got my home that I get to spend time in, in the UK, when I come to see the team for example, and the family come down.
“So, it’s just a lot better set-up all round, and I feel like I can take the team to more championships.” More

LEWIS HAMILTON has confirmed he plans on extending his contract with Mercedes and race in Formula One into his 40s.The seven-time F1 world champion, 37, has a contract at Merc until the end of 2023, guaranteeing at least another season.
Hamilton plans on staying at Merc into his 40sCredit: Splash
And despite previously saying that he did not envision himself racing at that age, Hamilton plans on staying a little longer.
Merc team principal Toto Wolff revealed that talks had already begun with his star driver over a new deal, which Hamilton revealed to be true.
Merc’s car has been far off the pace of Red Bull and Ferrari this season, with Hamilton or team-mate George Russell yet to win a race.
And the Silver Arrows’ eight-year constructors’ title streak came to an end at the United States Grand Prix with Red Bull wrapping it up.
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The torrid season won’t see Hamilton walk away, with the legendary Brit determined to stick by Merc, who stuck by him from the ace of 13.
He told Motorsport.com while in the States: “We are going to do another deal.
“We’re going to sit down and we’re going to discuss it in these next couple of months, I would say.
“My goal is to continue to be with Mercedes. I’ve been with Mercedes since I was 13 and they really are my family.
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“They’ve stuck with me through thick and thin. They’ve stuck with me through my mistakes, and s**t that’s been in the press.
“I believe in the people that are within the organisation. And I want to be the best teammate I can be to them, because I think we can make the brand even better, more accessible, even stronger than it is. And I think I can be an integral part of that.”
As for how long Hamilton stays in F1, in search of a record-breaking eighth world crown, is yet to be seen.
However, Hamilton says he’s looking into his next “three-to-five-year plan”.
He continued: “I’m trying to analyse my year and analyse my next three-to-five-year plan. It’s difficult to do 10.
“Where do I see myself? What are the things I want to do? What are my goals? And I’m adding in lots of business things.
“I have a lot of successful, really positive things that have lots of opportunity for success outside.
“But I want to keep racing. I love what I do. I’ve been doing it for 30 years, and I don’t feel that I should have to stop.
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“I think I’m currently still earning my keep, I would say.
“I want to do better, still. But I am planning to be here longer.” More

LEWUS HAMILTON described Red Bull’s cost-cap breach as another “kick” – after he controversially lost out on the Formula One title.Hamilton was pipped on the very final lap of the 2021 season when race director Michael Masi ignored the safety car rules to manufacture a blockbuster ending to the season.
Lewis Hamilton says Red Bull’s overspending to win the 2021 title is another “kick”Credit: Reuters
Max Verstappen overtook the Brit on the final lap of the seasonCredit: Getty
Max Verstappen, on fresh tyres, was able to overtake his rival and pip him to the chequered flag – and therefore the world championship.
It has now been revealed the Dutchman’s team DID breach the £114million spending limit last year.
Hamilton, 37, labelled the Abu Dhabi fiasco as “spirit-breaking” and “soul-crushing” and then admitted the extra blow of Red Bull’s rule-breaking “for sure brings up a little bit of emotion”.
The seven-time world champ – who wants “transparency” from the FIA – said: “Because you kind of buried it and moved on and then it comes back up and it’s like another bit of a kick.
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“And, yeah, that just bought it all kind of fresh again.
“So then [it was a case of] just getting back into the phase of just suppressing it and moving forwards.”
Red Bull insist they operated under the limit and claim they are innocent of any wrongdoing.
Their overspend, estimated to be around £1.8m, triggered a ‘minor’ breach of the regulations, but was way short of the £10m initially mooted.
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Red Bull now face a dilemma of whether to sign up to the FIA’s punishment and admit their guilt, despite their stance.
It is believed that such a penalty will include a fine, plus a possible reduction in windtunnel development or even a reduced budget for future seasons.
However, if they choose to appeal the FIA’s proposed penalty and take it to an independent panel of judges, they could risk an even-harsher penalty, should they fail.
Hamilton took a complete break after the end of last season, including a social media silence, as he contemplated his future.
There was speculation he may even retire and walk away from the sport after he felt disillusioned by the way events unfolded.
Hamilton added: “Was I ever truly not going to come back? I am not one to give up like that, really.
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“What really was breaking was to just believe that the sport would do something like that, that that would happen, given that there are so many people you rely on. You expect that the job would be done right.
“And [that] an outcome of a world championship which so many people have worked so hard for would come out through a wrong decision from somebody, you know?
“That was probably the only thing. It wasn’t for my lack of love for working with my team or racing cars; it was literally that.
“If you can lose a championship through wrongdoing within an organisation, that was the thing that I wondered whether…
“But I spent time with my family and that was really the best part of the healing, really. I just gave all of my time to the kids [his nephews and nieces], building snowmen and just being present with them.
“That enabled me to really recover, really bounce back. If I wasn’t with them, I would have been stuck in a hole.”
Hamilton has three races left of the 2022 season – giving him three chances to break his duck for the year.
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The Stevenage star has won at least one race in every single F1 season he has competed in, dating back to 2007.
But the problematic Mercedes car and Red Bull and Ferrari dominance have left him trailing well behind his rivals.
Hamilton was visibly gutted and took a break before returning this seasonCredit: AP
He has been unable to keep up with the newly-crowned world champ in 2022Credit: Splash More

LEWIS HAMILTON rocked a trendy double denim outfit as he arrived to film Jimmy Kimmel Live in Hollywood.The 37-year-old pulled up in a striking green outfit, while also donning black boots and shades.
Lewis Hamilton arrives to film Jimmy Kimmel LiveCredit: Getty
The F1 superstar donned a green double denim outfitCredit: The Mega Agency
Hamilton, 37, signs autographs for fansCredit: Getty
Hamilton, 37, made the appearance after last weekend’s second-place finish at the United States Grand Prix.
The seven-time champion led for much of the race, only to be picked off by Max Verstappen’s far speedier Red Bull with six laps remaining.
His latest result means that, while performing well in his Mercedes, Hamilton is running out of time to extend his run of having won a race in every season of his career.
He will have three more shots at it, starting at this weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix.
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Following that will be Brazil and Abu Dhabi next month.
Off the track, Hamilton has launched his own film and TV company.
As reported by DEADLINE, Hamilton’s new company will be called Dawn Apollo Films.
The first of two upcoming projects will see a thus-far untitled F1 film from Top Gun: Maverick director Joe Kosinski that will star actor Brad Pitt, while the second one will be a documentary detailing Hamilton’s personal journey.
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Gearing up for his new role, Hollywood superstar Pitt was in attendance at the US Grand Prix last weekend.
The American awkwardly snubbed Sky’s Martin Brundle during his pre-race grid walk.
After launching his new venture, Hamilton told DEADLINE: “I’ve always been into movies. I watch a lot. I find it a real escape. There are a lot of movies I find inspiring…
“The goal is to make impactful stories and ultimately to inspire people through movies and storytelling.
“A big part of the new company will be about social impact, community and causes.”
Brad Pitt attended last weekend’s United States GPCredit: Splash More

LEWIS HAMILTON put his rivalry with Max Verstappen aside as they assessed the United States Grand Prix together – and the Brit admitted the Red Bull car is simply too good.Hamilton, 37, desperately tried to hold off the 25-year-old in the closing stages in Austin after a bodged pit stop for the Dutchman.
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen exchanged pleasantries after the United Stated GPCredit: Splash
But the newly-crowned world champion, helped by fresh medium tyres, closed the gap on the Brit.
And he eventually overtook him with six laps to go, denying the Stevenage star his first race win of the season.
Despite the disappointment, Hamilton remained polite and engaging in the cool down room behind the scenes before stepping out on the podium with Verstappen and third-placed Charles Leclerc.
Speaking to Leclerc about Verstappen, Hamilton said: “It’s so hard to stay ahead of him.”
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Leclerc replied by asking about tyre degradation: “Were you losing the front or the rear?”
Hamilton confirmed it was his rear tyres.
Leclerc then asked about his Ferrari team-mate Carlos Sainz, who started on pole but spun out on the first corner of lap one.
The Monegasque ace said: “What happened to Carlos?”
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Hamilton confirmed: “Erm, George [Russell] took him out.”
Verstappen then entered the waiting room after celebrating sealing the 2022 constructors’ championship for Red Bull with his team.
And Hamilton was left dumbfounded at how good their car is this year – with the Mercedes model too far off the pace to secure even one chequered flag yet.
Hamilton, who has three races to avoid his first-ever winless season in F1, told the man who famously pipped him to the 2021 title: “You came from so far back!
“We can’t compete with you on the straights.”
The Sky Sports cameras and microphones in the room did not pick up Verstappen’s reply.
Leclerc then complained about one specific section of the track and said: “Turn 11 was so bad, the grip,” with which his fellow drivers seemed to agree.
Verstappen moved on to 391 points on Sunday as he landed a record-equalling 13th win of the season.
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Leclerc is second on 267 with Hamilton back in sixth on 198 with just the Grand Prix in Mexico, Brazil and Abu Dhabi to come.
The Merc man put his weekend disappointment behind him quickly, though, as he celebrated his dog Roscoe’s birthday.
Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were overheard holding a private conversation before Verstappen joinedCredit: Twitter
The trio then headed out on to the podium for the trophy presentationCredit: AFP More