Mercedes doesn't need to 'mess with people's heads' to win in F1 - Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton has distanced himself from the "psychological battle" currently being waged off track between Mercedes and Red Bull.

Whilst the battle between the two teams is heating up on the track as Hamilton and Verstappen have gone head to head in each of the first three races this season, Red Bull has been busy recruiting Mercedes technical staff for its powertrain venture.

With goading and snide comments already making their way into the championship battle, Hamilton is adamant he is only focused on battling on the circuit.

Asked if he enjoyed the background niggle, Hamilton replied: "Luckily, for me and my job, I don't have to focus on those kinds of things and I am really not about the whole psychological battle that people like to have.

"It is interesting to see from the outside the little squabbles people have and the digs people take.

"I am just really about trying to be the best I can be and I know that if I put all my energy into that then I can do some great things so I don't feel like we need to put anyone else off or mess with their heads.

"My dad always said to do the talking on the track so that is what I am about. That is what I do."

Whilst the first movement from Mercedes to Red Bull was announced ahead of Portimão, a further influx into the Milton Keynes-based outfit was announced on the eve of the Spanish Grand Prix.

Seven-time champion Hamilton praised the team for its togetherness and wished all leaving the best for the future.

Insisting he is not distracted by off-track affairs, he continued: "It is not something I put any energy towards.

"There is, obviously, all this that is going on in the background. I think I have the best ally in Toto [Wolff] who will be working to manage it in the best way possible.

"Without a doubt, every individual in our team is amazing and it is not a surprise that everybody will want them.

"We have had a lot of success together. If there are people who have gone, I wish them all the best, we all have to go through our own journeys and make our own decisions which are right for us.

"This is a huge team. It is not about one individual or even five, it is about one collection and an amazing collection of people that remains solid and focused on winning this championship."