This archive report was first published on 28 October 2019.
With the United States Grand Prix just around the corner, Lewis Hamilton is hoping to avoid a collision with Max Verstappen in Texas. The Mercedes driver believes that racing against the Red Bull driver comes with a higher risk of contact and accident.
Hamilton's comments come after a perfectly-executed strategic triumph in the Mexican Grand Prix, where he made contact with Verstappen on the opening lap. Despite the incident, Hamilton managed to keep his car in a straight line and claim the 83rd victory of his career.
Verstappen, on the other hand, was left to rue his impulsive driving style, which saw him clash with Valtteri Bottas and suffer a puncture. The 22-year-old driver was penalized three grid positions for ignoring yellow flags during qualifying and went on to finish sixth.
Hamilton's concerns about racing against Verstappen were echoed by Sebastian Vettel, who finished second in the Mexican Grand Prix. The Ferrari driver nodded in agreement with Hamilton's views, saying 'Just copy and paste... It's true.'
As the two drivers prepare to face off in Texas, Hamilton will be looking to clinch his sixth drivers' world championship. With Verstappen's reputation for being a 'hit-man' on the track, Hamilton will need to be at the top of his game to avoid a collision.
