Called Hamilton "Under Pressure", Verstappen: No Problem, I Don't Know Him

JAKARTA - Max Verstappen mocked Lewis Hamilton's comments with sarcasm on Thursday after the seven-time world champion said his Red Bull rivals felt under pressure in the race for the F1 title this season.

"I'm so nervous I can't even sleep," said the 23-year-old Dutch driver ahead of the Russian Grand Prix when Hamilton was offered his comments.

"Fighting for the title is scary. I really hate it," he said.

However, Verstappen says that those who know him know how relaxed he is.

"I'm very calm. Having the greatest car you can drive every weekend and you being able to fight to win is the best feeling... those comments just show you that he doesn't really know me," Verstappen said.

"It doesn't matter. I don't need to know him either... I'm just focused on myself and I'm really enjoying him out there up front and hopefully I can do that for a very long time."

The Red Bull driver has a five-point lead over his rivals from the Mercedes team after 14 races out of 22 scheduled, but the Red Bull driver will start this weekend's Russian Grand Prix with a three-place grid penalty for causing both crashes at Monza two. last week.

Their feud became the main story of the season as Verstappen and Red Bull sought to end Mercedes' seven-year dominance and overthrow the most successful driver of all time.

Hamilton previously said Verstappen was under pressure in the race for the F1 title this season and would not admit it had affected him.

"I was in my 10th (title) fight more or less like that, but I remember how the first one felt and I know it was stressful," Hamilton said.

"Obviously he won't admit it and I won't try to make assumptions."

"I'm just saying that I remember how it felt when I had my first fight and it definitely got bigger. It was tough, intense, I went through all kinds of emotions and I didn't always handle it well."

"That's what's going to happen... a lot of personal expectations and pressure because the desire to win is huge. I empathize and understand that."

Hamilton, who won his first title in 2008 as a 23-year-old McLaren driver, hopes he can turn things around.