Verstappen “can’t be bothered” with F1 mind games

Max Verstappen “cannot be bothered” to allow this year’s title fight to descend into off-track “mind games” and says he will not rise to them even if rival Lewis Hamilton seeks to try to distract him.

After assuming the championship lead through his success at the Monaco Grand Prix, Verstappen said that "actions speak louder than words" and he likes to do his talking “on the track” in an apparent response to comments materialising from the Mercedes camp.

He and Hamilton have always had a good relationship and when asked if he is prepared for the mind games will almost certainly come, he responded: “If they come. I mean, I can’t be bothered by it, to be honest, mind games.

“I think also Lewis said after the race he doesn’t want to play those things, so we just have to focus on what we have to do on the track, which I think we do, and it’s also the best.”

Despite retiring from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Verstappen retained his slender four-point championship lead over Hamilton after the Mercedes driver locked his brakes upon the restart and dropped out of the top 10.

Although both appear keen to avoid a war of words, Verstappen acknowledged that circumstances can always affect how drivers feel and ill-timed questions from the media could still cause issues.

He explained: “Whatever is said in here [the press conference room], it can be a bit emotional sometimes after or before the race and it also depends on how you get the question asked.”

Despite this, however, he feels the pair’s relationship can withstand any off-track issues and added: “It’s alright. I think Lewis and I really respect each other and I think that’s very important.”

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