Max Verstappen reacts to Lewis Hamilton's suggestion that he feels "he has a lot to prove", the Dutchman insisting that he feels no such thing.

Not for the first time this season, one cannot help but feel that mind games are going on as the battle between Red Bull and Mercedes hots up.

Whether it's Toto Wolff or Lewis Hamilton, neither appear to miss an opportunity to take a swipe at their title rivals, even to the point of applying added pressure by suggesting Red Bull and Max Verstappen head into the Monaco weekend as favourites.

Hamilton was at it again today, taking a none-too-subtle swipe at his Dutch rival.

"There is a nice balanced amount of respect between us," the Briton told reporters when asked if he feared the title battle might result in comings together.

"Perhaps, as you know, he feels that he has a lot to prove but I am not necessarily in the same boat there," he deftly added, "I am more long term. It's a marathon not a sprint, sort of mentality, which is ultimately why I have the stats that I have.

"I will continue with that and I will do everything to make sure that we do avoid connecting."

Subsequently told of the world champion's comments, it was clear they had had the desired effect.

"I have nothing to prove," snapped the Dutchman. "And avoiding contact... I think it goes both ways, so we have done well, that's true.

"But we raced hard, we avoided the contact, both sides, let's hope we can keep doing that and keep being on track and race hard against each other."

Thus far, Monaco has not been a happy hunting ground for the youngster, whose best result was 4th in 2019 but was subsequently demoted to 4th after being handed a 5s time penalty for an unsafe release.

"So far in Monaco, a few mistakes from my side, a bit unlucky in races, it's not been the best for me so far," he admitted, "but it would be, of course, a nice weekend to turn that around here.

"It's been a bit up and down," he continued. "2016 and '18, we did have a good car here, and the other years, since I was with the team, it was not that easy, let's say it like that.

"It just all depends on the competitiveness of the car from the start. For a few years we were a bit off, and then some other years I think we had a better start to the year.

"Of course so far this year, it seems like we've had a competitive start, so I just hope that it's going to be the same here. I'm sure that we will have a competitive car."

Check out our Wednesday gallery from Monaco, here.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by SexyLadyRacer, 24/05/2021 13:26

"@Kenji
No, I didn't miss the point at all, Lewis Hamilton is absolutely the GOAT and can drive and win in all three makes!
It should be quite obvious and undeniable now after Monaco that Max Verstappen and Red Bull have the fastest and most dominant car on the F1 grid this season, and if they don't win both championships by a good margin then they definitely will have underperformed on the car's ability!
If Lewis Hamilton wins the F1 world title this season against the dominant Red Bull car, then that should be undeniable proof that Lewis Is The Absolute GOAT!

My reply to your reference to the meds wasn't a throwaway, and taking into account of your age and sad negative outlook, you should really take care in taking your correct dosage of meds, and stop bashing the black pills just because you hate that colour! "

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2. Posted by kenji, 23/05/2021 4:54

"@ SLR...either you missed the point entirely or you chose to ignore it! The 'meds' was a simple throwaway/ It was your point of the GOATS abilities in all three makes? "

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3. Posted by SexyLadyRacer, 22/05/2021 19:39

"@kenji
I'm extremely happy to disappoint you because I don't have to take meds, and you must be talking about yourself! "

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4. Posted by kenji, 20/05/2021 6:52

"@SLR...I must have missed something vital in F1! 'Hamilton can win whether he is driving the Mercedes, the Red Bull or the 2017 and 2018 Ferrari'. Back to the correct dose of meds for you SRL."

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5. Posted by SexyLadyRacer, 20/05/2021 1:57

"From the very first day Max Verstappen entered F1 he was trying to prove that he was a truly talented driver, and somehow even a gifted driver! He wasn't!
Even as the hype gets more and more incredible and ridiculous, some trying to say that Max was somehow a phenomenon, Max was making mistakes on track on a regular basis right up now!
Max Verstappen is overrated imo!
Max and Red Bull has the best and fastest car on the grid this season and should be winning races and leading the championshi, but it is Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes who is winning and leading the championship because he is the real gifted driver and the phenomenon!
The difference between Lewis and Max is that Lewis can win whether he is driving the Mercedes, the Red Bull that Max is driving now, or the Ferrari that Seb was driving in 2017 - 2018!"

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6. Posted by kenji, 20/05/2021 0:29

"I'm fully expecting a few banzai moves in turn one this year but once the train leaves the station it'll all be down to strategy. Roll on..."

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"I have nothing to prove," insists Verstappen

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