Max Verstappen Not Missing Close Duels With Lewis Hamilton

F1
Tuesday, 12 December 2023 at 19:00
Updated at Wednesday, 13 December 2023 at 09:20
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The 2023 Formula One World Champion Max Verstappen shared he does not miss duels as he had with Lewis Hamilton in 2021.
Max Verstappen finished his most successful and dominant season ever in nine years of racing in F1. The Dutchman won his third title, and Red Bull seems to have the pace to win the title for at least the next two seasons.
The Dutchman was asked to react to change between past statements when he said his goal was to win one World Championship and the fact that he won third in a row now and broke multiple incredible records in 2023.
The 26-year-old explained to Blick his views had changed in the past few years: "My vision has changed. Why shouldn't I win when I have the chance?"
The triple World Champion was used to finishing in third place behind two Mercedes drivers in the dominant era of Silver Arrows up until 2021.
In 2021, Red Bull became a real challenger for the Championship, and Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton became the biggest rivals in Formula One as they battled on track every single race as if it was their last.
Their battles quite often ended in a contact or collision. Some of the most significant and controversial include the 2021 British Grand Prix and the 2021 Italian Grand Prix.
In the end, the Dutchman won the 2021 season on the final lap of the final race, which might have been the most challenging win of his career.
However, ever since 2021, the tables have turned, and the Red Bull driver had the dominant car, giving Hamilton no chance of getting a win.
The Dutchman won 19 of 22 races in the 2023 season in a super-consistent and flawless manner. Asked whether he doesn't miss duels with Hamilton, he responded:
"No. I was happy with how this season went. Sure, I appreciate the duels we once had. But now I especially appreciate the successes that we can celebrate as a team."