Max Verstappen, Red Bull, Circuit of the Americas, 2025

Lewis Hamilton says he would prefer to be in Max Verstappen’s place in the championship fight as the Red Bull driver closes on the leading McLaren duo.

Verstappen arrives at this weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix having cut his deficit to championship leader Oscar Piastri from 104 points to 40 over the last four rounds. The pair are separated by Piastri’s team mate Lando Norris, who is 14 points off the lead.

Hamilton said Verstappen is in the better position psychologically of the championship contenders.

“When you’re in the lead and someone’s chopping away your lead, that plays on you more than if you’re chasing,” he said. “If you’re chasing, you have nothing to lose, as opposed to when you’re in the lead, you have everything to lose. So it will be interesting to see how they handle it.”

Neither McLaren driver has won the world championship before, while Verstappen has four titles to his name, which Hamilton sees as another point in his favour.

“I don’t know what really to expect,” he said. “I think you’ve got three incredibly talented drivers.

“I can’t predict how they’re all going to behave, but obviously of course Max has won it four times, so he knows what it’s like, and being the hunter is much easier than being the defender.”

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Hamilton, who fought Verstappen for the championship in 2021, said title fights are more satisfying when they’re between drivers from different teams.

“Having a team that was just obviously out front, obviously [McLaren] won the constructors’ [championship], and then obviously having the championship battle within the two [team mates] is still exciting. But adding another team and another driver into the mix I think 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, the battle development through the year, […] I think that’s what people tune in to see.”

“The last few races, Red Bull obviously took a decent step with their car,” he added. “It has been the dominant car really over the last four years.

“Obviously McLaren have come in last year and this year and have done an amazing job. But I think it’s great to see that we’ve got this massive battle going on now.”

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