Verstappen relishing "hunter" role after Hamilton challenge
Verstappen relishing "hunter" role after Hamilton challenge
Reigning F1 world champion Max Verstappen is relishing the opportunity of being the hunter in the race for this year's title.
The Dutchman has won three races of five so far this campaign and the sprint at Imola, yet trails Charles Leclerc in the standings by virtue of two retirements in Bahrain and Australia.
The Red Bull driver held off a late-season challenge from Lewis Hamilton last year to clinch his maiden championship but asked if he preferred being hunter or hunted, Verstappen insisted: "I like the position I'm in at the moment, knowing that the car is quick.
"And for example, end of last year, of course, I was the one who was being hunted. And that was actually not a great position because I knew that we didn't have the pace anymore.
"I knew it was going to be very tricky to the end. So yeah, just depends a bit of how competitive you are as well."
Leclerc happy to be hunted
Ferrari driver Leclerc is at the top of the pack for the first time in his career and faces a season-long battle for his first title with Verstappen.
Asked the same question as his rival, Leclerc replied: "Well, I think we have been in only one position since the beginning of the season, which means we are hunted for now.
"I quite like this position to be honest, because it means that you are doing something right. But it is also true that it’s two races that the gap is slowly closing down.
"But yeah, I don't I don't really mind, to be honest, whichever position I am in, I just want to be the most competitive out there. And at the moment, it seems that Red Bull has the upper hand in the races."
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F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
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