Anthony Hamilton thinks Lewis and Max will patch things up after intense 2021 season is over

Red Bull’s team principal called rivalry between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen is one of the greatest ever in history of F1. The two title contenders have been pushing each other to the limit ever since the 2021 season started.

The two titans have crashed into each other at two races this season, one at Silverstone, and the other at Monza. Lewis won Russian GP while Max wins US GP, they are separated by just 12 point in the championship battle after 17 races. However, once the season is done and dusted, Lewis’ father Anthony Hamilton feels that the two drivers will patch things up and maintain a healthy relationship. But for now, are focused on their battles on the race track.

Speaking to Connor Andrews in an exclusive interview with talkSPORT, Anthony responded to a question about the duo disliking each other.

“No that’s not true, they’re fierce competitors. Lewis is where Max wants to be, Max is where Lewis wants to be, they’re like boxers going into the ring, but I guarantee that when it’s over and done there will be huge hugs and laughter and kisses between the pair of them.”

But a strange incident occurred during Friday practice when the title contenders had a drag race up the start/finish straight, with Verstappen calling Hamilton a ‘stupid idiot’ over team radio, before brandishing his middle finger.

“It’s called competition,” he said. “If you’re too friendly with your competitor then you ease off the gas a little bit too much, you only have to look further down the field yesterday between the two McLaren drivers and the Ferrari drivers, those guys are friends.”

Anthony Hamilton on Lewis Hamilton’s Future

Lewis has been negotiating his own contracts since joining Mercedes in 2013, recently signing one-year extensions. But He increased that to two years earlier in 2021, keeping him with the German outfit as Formula One enters a new era of regulations next year.

His father isn’t sure how long Hamilton will stay after that, with the key being enjoying his driving.

“I’m not sure [how long he will race] is the answer,” Anthony said. “As I always say to him if you feel fit, if you’re still enjoying driving the car, still love getting in it, then keep going and that’s what he loves, he loves driving the car, I suspect he’ll keep going.

“There’s still a quarter of the season to go, at the end of the day we’ll keep fighting until the very end win or lose it would have been a fantastic season, win or lose.

“Being the elder in the series, whatever it is, are winners, because it’s very rare that you get to the age of 36, 37 years of age and still be able to compete at this level with drivers that are 10 years your junior, so for us every day is a championship win.

“Lewis is the last of the mohicans if you think about it, he’s from the era of Rosberg, [Robert] Kubica, [Heikki] Kovalainen and all those guys have gone but you’ve still got Lewis who’s still here, he is in the new era with all these new young drivers and still the driver to beat.

“There isn’t a huge amount of pressure on Lewis, but he’s competitive and every race that he competes in he wants to win, he’s going on 37 but going on 22.”