Lewis Hamilton warns F1 rival Max Verstappen: 'I'll be more aggressive'

Lewis Hamilton has vowed to be “a more aggressive driver this year” when racing against Formula 1 rival Max Verstappen. 
Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1.
Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1.
© xpbimages.com

Hamilton and Verstappen came to blows on several occasion✨s as they engaged in an intense season-long battle for the 2021 world championship, with Verstappen eventually prevailing to win his maiden title❀ in controversial circumstances in Abu Dhabi. 

The seven-time world champion often backed out of duels with Verstappen in order to a🐻void contact, though the pair were involved in big crashes at Silverstone and Monza when boﷺth drivers refused to concede position. 

 

 

Asked whether he has considered changing his ไwheel-to-wheel approach in order to combat Verstappen’s more aggressive stance, Hamilton replied: “I will be a more aggressive driver this year. You’ll see.”

Hamilton and Mercedes appear to find themselves on the back foot coming into this wee🙈kend’s season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix following a difficult pre-season. Both drivers were unable to extract consistent performance out of the W13 while Mercedes also seemed to struggle with porpoising more than other teams. 

Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 W13.
Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 W13.
© xpbimages.com

“I’m 🍸ho🅘ping my guys have come up with some sort of solution going into this weekend and when I get in the car today it feels better,” Hamilton said.

“But I know there’s not a huge change♏ in such a short spa꧃ce of time. So we'll still most likely have some of the problems that we had last week. 

“Mentally, it’s just about making sure you are extracting e🃏verything in every other area. All I can do is control how I’m🐲 performing in the car, just trying to be positive and knowing that we are all working together in the team. 

“It is the best team and I’m very grateful for the group of people I have 🧜behind me, so confident we can make it through somehow.” 

Verstappen sar🥂castically suggested Mercedes would finish “dead last” this season because they have developed an “awful car”, in what appeared to be a swipe at the reigning world champions repeatedly downplaying its prospects for 2022. 

"I think they'll be dead last,” Verstappen said. “According๊ to their comments – I think they have an awful car, and they've had that already since 2017 in pre-season testing. 

“No, we'll find out. But they for sure will💦 be competitive.” 

Hamilton fine confirmed - it will be invested into diversity and inclusion

The FIA have confirmed that Hamilton’s fine for failing to attend 🌜the 2021 end-of-year gala will be paid as 🤡a donation to diversity and inclusion.

Hamilton met with the FIA president Moha෴mmed Bin Sulayem this week.

“In the spirit of commitment to building a more diverse sport in the future, the FIA president gave his full support to Hamilton’s donation of 50,000 Euros that will be used to support a student from a disadvantaged background in achieving an educational qualification in motors𝔍port,” an FIA statement read.

The seven-time ♒world champion had shared his findings from the Hamilton Commission.

“The FIA reminded Hamilton of h♉is obligation of sportsmanship, particularly in view of his status in motorsport,” the statement concluded.

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