- World champion suggests his title rival is feeling pressure
- Verstappen leads title race by five points before Russian GP
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen exchanged some pointed, verbal sparring as the pair prepared for this weekend’s Russian Grand Prix. Hamilton’s suggestion at Sochi that his rival is feeling the pressure of his first Formula One world championship battle was met by Verstappen with scathing sarcasm before being dismissed out of hand by the Dutchman.
Verstappen leads a closely contested title fight by five points from Hamilton and the tension between the two drivers remains high after they clashed at the last round in Italy, the second time they have done so this season. Verstappen’s attempt to pass at Monza ended with him hitting Hamilton’s Mercedes and eliminating both of them from the race.