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LEWIS HAMILTON must have heard almost everything in F1.
But even the seven-time world champ couldn’t contain himself when told of Max Verstappen’s verdict on the upcoming final third of the season.
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Red Bull ace Verstappen has won the last three titles and leads this year’s Championship by 62 points from McLaren’s Lando Norris.
But RB have spluttered in recent races amid performance issues.
And McLaren have been closing the gap – leaving them just eight points behind Red Bull in the duel for the Constructors’ crown.
However, Mercedes’ British star Hamilton was amused and bemused by Verstappen’s assessment ahead of Sunday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Last time out, at the Italian GP two weeks ago, Norris was third and his team-mate Oscar Piastri second – behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
In contrast, Verstappen was sixth, with fellow RB driver Sergio Perez a further two spots below him.
The Dutchman, 26, responded at the time by claiming Red Bull’s title hopes were now “unrealistic”.
And far from now backing down in Baku, he said: “If we perform like Monza, it’s not realistic.
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“So we definitely need to be better than what we have been delivering lately, we know that.
“If we can find a better balance with the car, then actually we’ll be more competitive. But if more competitive is enough, I don’t know.”
Those comments were put to Hamilton, who is out of contention in sixth place before he switches to Ferrari for next year.
And the 39-year-old was clearly reeling after hearing his old foe’s judgement.
At first he said: “He said it’s unrealistic for him to get one of the two titles? Wow.”
Hamilton then burst into laughter and added: “I mean, that’s his opinion, that’s obviously what he’s feeling in that moment, but he’s pretty far ahead!
“I don’t really know what to say about it.”
Verstappen, however, could yet have plenty to say after Sunday’s race – and for positive reasons.
That’s because, despite his downbeat appraisal, he also let slip that Red Bull have discovered why their car has encountered problems.
So if the team can fix those issues, their double title challenge could be “Baku on track” this weekend.
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