The Russian Grand Prix is underway at Sochi as the championship battle continues. After having 12 days to mull over the Hamilton-Verstappen incident at Monza, both protagonists and their teams are back with some fire. Red Bull boss Christian Horner had strong opinions against Lewis Hamilton and everything said in the build-up to the weekend.

Talking to Sky Sports F1, Horner shared his thoughts on his driver’s opposition. “We all know that Lewis likes to play what he perceives as mind games.” However, Horner added, “It’s water off the duck’s back for Max.”

As the two champions get ready for a face-off, the popular opinion is that another collision is a distant possibility. Although Horner stated Max is enjoying the intense competition.

Horner stated, “I think he’s just really enjoying being a contender this year… we’ve got nothing to lose, we’re just going for it. I think the pressure is not on the challenger; it’s more on the vendor.”

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Mind games and challenging races have already been defining components of the title battle; however, is clean racing a forlorn concept over the next eight rounds? And is Horner’s statement on the pressure being on Lewis more than Max legitimate?

Christian Horner defends Verstappen

As the defending champion, Hamilton has more to lose than Max Verstappen. A title away from breaking Schumacher’s record, Hamilton has to add the pressure of keeping his momentum going. On the other hand, as Christian Horner mentioned, Max has nothing to lose.

Furthermore, the championship protagonists have already exchanged fire over the topic of pressure. Undoubtedly, both drivers feel the heat of the vigorous championship battle, yet the so-called mind games continue to play their part.

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Christian Horner praises Verstappen’s ability to handle that stress. “When you see the pressure he was under with the home crowd in Zandvoort, you don’t get bigger pressure than that, and I think the way he handled that in particular was truly impressive. I think he’s just really enjoying and relishing this battle.”

The air of the championship battle has only added to the magnitude of the exciting season. As the teams and their drivers continue to play hard for their ultimate goals, the Russian GP is another hurdle to the top.

Watch this story: Mad Max: Verstappen’s Angriest Rants on Team Radio