Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has issued a grave warning to Oscar Piastri about the looming threat of Max Verstappen, admitting the Dutch driver is “cut-throat” when fighting for the championship lead.
Hamilton and Verstappen were locked in one of the sport’s tightest and most chaotic fights in 2021, which saw the two tangle multiple times during the season in Monza, Jeddah and Silverstone.
The feud ended in Verstappen narrowly clinching the victory in a controversial finish due to a well-timed safety car period and race director intervention in a drama-filled Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
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Hamilton cautioned the young Australian driver that Verstappen had “nothing to lose” and that Piastri would need to “dig deep” to hold onto his current lead.
Verstappen comes into the Mexico weekend only 40 points adrift of Piastri, with McLaren teammate Lando Norris only 14 points off the top spot.
Race winner and 2021 F1 Drivers Champion Max Verstappen celebrates on the podium. Getty
“In that scenario [for the championship], it’s challenging, the pressure is high. It is a time when you have to put your blinkers up and block everything from the outside,” Hamilton said.
“You have to be cut-throat and that is what Max is, he is going to take this from them [McLaren] if they don’t do the same.
“You have to dig deep to hold off someone like Max and the car he is in. But also for either of them to come out ahead, consistency is key, and you’ve seen that from Max in the last few races.”
Hamilton had a similar fight with Verstappen in 2021 and the two went neck-and-neck into the championship decider on the same amount of points, 369.5 points.
The two swapped the lead of the championship throughout the course of the year and Hamilton, speaking from experience, admitted it was easier to be the “hunter” than the hunted.
Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton. Getty
“You have three incredibly talented drivers and I can’t predict how they’re going to behave,” added Hamilton.
“Max has won it four times so he knows what it’s like and being the hunter is much easier than being the defender.
“When you’re in the lead and someone is chopping away at your lead, that plays on you more than if you’re chasing and you have nothing to lose.
“In the lead, you have everything to lose.”
Although the McLaren drivers have the faster car on paper, being able to consistently win will be the difference between taking the trophy and finishing behind.
Lando Norris, Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri after the Italian Grand Prix. LAT Images
“The McLaren guys have the fastest car so it’s theirs to lose. But Max and Red Bull are doing an amazing job so you can never discount them,” said George Russell.
“They showed signs of great pace at the start of the year but it was pretty inconsistent, whereas now week in, week out they are smashing it.”