Hamilton and Verstappen close on track, distant off it

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Formula 1 F1 – Holland Grand Prix – Circuit Zandvoort, Zandvoort, Netherlands – September 5, 2021 Red Bulls Max Verstappen with Mercedes Lewis Hamilton after winning the Pool race via REUTERS / Francisco Seco

October 21 (Reuters) – Formula 1 title rivals Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen have been close to the track all season, sometimes too close, but otherwise they keep their distance.

Mercedes’ seven-time world champion Hamilton, who is six points behind Red Bulls Verstappen after 16 of 22 races, said little to say at the US Grand Prix on Thursday how the relationship had changed in the worsening title fight.

“We have limited communication … some of the riders hang more than others. I wouldn’t say that I’m with anyone particularly close,” said the Briton, who fought wheel to wheel and collided with the Dutchman.

“Like last year, we’ll see each other on the track and say hello. We’re going to do the same thing this year and it’s no different for me personally.”

Verstappen has won seven of Hamilton’s five this year, but Austin has been much more of a Mercedes track than Red Bull in recent years.

Hamilton has won five of the eight races in Austin and Mercedes has been in pole position for the last six at the Circuit of the Americas.

This year could be much closer, however, and Hamilton – winner of 100 record races in his career – realized the next one in Mexico could be tough too.

When asked how important it was to win in Austin, Hamilton said it was important to win every race.

“It’s going to be incredibly difficult. There will be moments when we might be able to push them aside … I don’t assume Mexico won’t be strong, but in Mexico they are usually very strong,” said the Briton.

“A lot can happen in these six races and I think we’ll just take it one race at a time and then give it all we have.”

Verstappen rejected a suggestion that he might be on his way after regaining the lead in Turkey two weeks ago, a race confidently won by Hamilton’s Finnish team-mate Valtteri Bottas.

“We know we still have some work to do. We want to be faster,” he said. “The team result in Turkey was good, the overall performance was not outstanding.”

Reporting by Alan Baldwin in London, editing by Ed Osmond

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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