Verstappen must avoid "silly mistakes" in Hamilton title fight

Max Verstappen has reiterated his Red Bull team must avoid "silly mistakes" in order to dethrone Lewis Hamilton in this season's tight F1 championship battle.

Hamilton has taken a 14-point lead in the drivers' standings after snatching victory in the last race in Spain from Verstappen courtesy of a clever Mercedes strategy.

The pair's duel marked the fourth consecutive race this year Verstappen and Hamilton had fought side-by-side for track position, with the Dutchman relishing the chance to take on the seven-time champion.

"It’s close," said Verstappen. "I wish it was closer! It’s a long season and we can’t afford to have any retirement or silly mistakes so we just have to keep on doing what we’re doing.

"I think it [the close battle] is what everyone wants to see but, of course, what I want as well.

"The last few years we have not been close enough so it’s a good start to the season, that’s for sure and I hope it can be like this for the rest of the season because it keeps everyone excited."

With Valtteri Bottas in third position and already 33 points adrift of Verstappen, the title fight looks to be a two-horse race between the Red Bull driver and Hamilton.

So far the duo have kept their intense fight clean, with Verstappen insisting there is no animosity between them after the opening rounds.

“It is very relaxed," he added. "You can see we always get on very well.

"When you just respect each other and when you can say to each other when the other one has done a good job or a better job, that is very important.”

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