Verstappen warns Hamilton: You need to raise your game!

Max Verstappen has warned Lewis Hamilton that he will have to go up a gear in the 2018 season to ensure he retains his F1 world championship title.

Verstappen is fast emerging as one of the main long-term challengers for the driver's crown, to the extent where four-time champ Hamilton has referred to the Dutchman as a threat to his status as F1's number one.

"I've got that Max just sitting there waiting to take it," said Hamilton in reference to the F1 championship.

"I've got to raise the game another level in order to stay ahead of him."

Verstappen has won two of the last four races and is the only driver apart from the champion to claim first position since the summer break. He recently signed a new contract with Red Bull until 2020 which has put speculation of a potential move to bed.

The 20-year-old responded to the Mercedes driver’s claim that he would have to go to another level next season to win two consecutive championships, whilst also commenting on his status with Red Bull.

"I heard it. I hope he has to,” he told Sky Sports F1.

“At the moment he is the world champion, I'm still not in that position and I hope I can be next year. We need to wait and see how strong we can be as a team."

Red Bull team-mate Daniel Ricciardo's contract expires at the end of next season, and speculation continues that Verstappen is being seen as Red Bull's number one driver.

But Verstappen refused to be drawn on this, adding:

"I don't want to be a number one driver because you want to beat your team-mate in a normal way with the same material. At the end of the day that is more satisfying."