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Lewis Hamilton Accused of Getting ‘Frustrated’ After Forced Attempt to Downplay Max Verstappen’s Dominance

Published 08/01/2023, 6:15 AM EDT

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via Imago

Every time a driver embarks on a dominant run, there is a discussion about whether the driver is showing his superiority only because of his driving prowess or whether the ruling drivers may have been derailed if another motorist of the same competence had been driving the same dominant vehicle. Apparently, this debate was also raging in the F1 paddocks during the time of Lewis Hamilton supremacy. However, during Max Verstappen‘s dominance, many sports professionals and fans rejected any such comparison, which appears to have hurt Lewis Hamilton, who after a record-breaking run of Red Bull has now been accused of downplaying Max Verstappen’s dominance.

Verstappen has continued his unstoppable streak this season after winning 15 of the 22 races last year. However, this year he has done so in a far more imposing manner. In order to put this into perspective, it should be noted that the Dutch driver has been unbeaten since April 30 of this year. His dominance is further recognized by the fact that he has won 8 straight races, which puts him just one victory shy of Sebastian Vettel, who currently holds the record for the most consecutive victories—a feat that not even Sir Lewis Hamilton was able to accomplish in his prime.

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The F1 world only submitted to Verstappen’s dominion when he defeated Sergio Perez [P2] by 22 seconds to take yet another top step of the podium at the Belgian track. The seven-time champion, though, has minimized the Dutchman’s superiority by making a comparison as he said, “Do I want such a fast car? Naturally. If I was in Sergio’s car, things would be different for Max.” 

Verstappen’s dominance was downplayed in his statement, prompting accusations that he was irate on which NOS reporter Louis Dekker agreed as he stated on F1 Maximaal, “There is also some frustration in it, I have the impression. But I think it’s a very nice dream that the two of them will be in the Red Bull for the rest of the season. I really hoped that Pérez would give a little more game, especially after the first races.”

Hamilton’s dissatisfaction doesn’t seem to be resolved by merely a comparison as over the Belgian Grand Prix where Red Bull was found to be dominating the rest of the field, he and his team had to deal with a few challenges during the weekend, while already upset about Verstappen’s performance in Formula 1, the Mercedes Maestro made an Austin Powers allusion.

Lewis Hamilton finds an epic way to describe Max Verstappen’s hegemony

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Verstappen appears to have taken command now that Lewis Hamilton’s authority has come to an end after the 2021 season. After winning the 12th straight race at the Hungarian GP, Red Bull ended the historical record of winning consecutive(11) races of McLaren. At this point, as it appears that the Dutchman will win his third title with ease, Hamilton referred to Verstappen’s hegemony by using a line from the Austin Powers in Goldmember movie from 2002.

via Reuters

ESPNf1 quoted Hamilton as saying, “What do you want me to say? I haven’t spoken to him,” after the media asked Whether Verstappen has it too easy upfront. Later, he quipped the line and said, “He is having a smoke and a pancake. You know the film?”

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WATCH THIS STORY | Roger Federer Stands Strongly Behind Struggling Lewis Hamilton in Dire Times of Max Verstappen’s Dominance

The most recent modification Mercedes made during the Belgian Grand Prix makes it seem as though their ghosts from the past are returning to haunt them. Given that Mercedes has gotten itself embroiled in yet another mess, who do you believe might challenge Verstappen and company after the summer break?

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Written by:

Aditya Srivastava

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Aditya Srivastava is an F1 writer at EssentiallySports with over two years of writing experience. He developed a keen interest in the sport after the unforgettable Abu Dhabi 2021 race. As a graduate of a premier institute, Aditya is committed to producing high-quality content that is engaging, informative, and accurate.
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Edited by:

Akash Pandhare