Max Verstappen states that he is failing to understand why he frequently clashes with Lewis Hamilton when they go wheel-to-wheel.
Throughout the drama-filled 2021 Formula 1 season in which Verstappen and Hamilton battled for the title, the duo crashed on multiple occasions.
The included encounters at Silverstone, Monza and Jeddah, while there were other several near misses during the year.
Tension cooled between the pair in 2022 as Mercedes was unable to consistently fight at the front of the field against Red Bull.
However, its car was on form at the Brazilian Grand Prix, and at an early-race Safety Car restart, Verstappen and Hamilton collided once again as they battled for second place.
Speaking to Autosport, Verstappen highlighted that he is not having frequent incidents with any other of his rivals.
“Well, I have to be careful what I’m saying here, but with everyone I’ve been fighting this year, it’s been really hard, aggressive battles and we never really came together,” he said.
“Somehow, with Lewis it’s a different story. And I honestly don’t understand.
“Like, this year, ok we haven’t really had a lot of battles. But Brazil we got together – it was not my intention [to crash]. I got the blame for it, which I didn’t find fair.
“If it would’ve been more of a racing incident that I could live with.”
Verstappen suggested that perhaps the reason is different styles being present in contrasting generations.
“But… I don’t understand,” he said. “Maybe it’s just a generation thing – that we understand each other better, we are racing nicer to each other. I don’t get it.
“But I don’t feel like I’m doing anything different to Lewis or to the other drivers in terms of how we’re racing.
“Because the day before with George [in the Interlagos sprint race], we were having an incredible [fight] – closing the door, defending, out-braking each other.
“That was a lot of fun and I was trying to do the same in the main race – having that kind of battle. But, unfortunately we couldn’t get it to work.”
