JAKARTA - Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton on Thursday said his closest rival, Max Verstappen, is under pressure in the race for the F1 title this season but would not admit it had affected him.
The Red Bull driver has a five-point lead over his Mercedes rivals after 14 races out of 22 scheduled, but Verstappen will start this weekend's Russian Grand Prix with a three-place grid penalty for being the cause of both driver crashes at Monza two weeks ago.
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.
"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.
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"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.
"It's a lot easier to deal with now than it used to be. I've been here a long time," Hamilton said.
Hamilton said there was no lasting effect from the crash at Monza, where Verstappen's car lifted and landed on the Mercedes number 44 with the rear tire hitting the Briton's head.
Hamilton said he had done yoga and acupuncture and his physiotherapist Angela Cullen had flown with him to America, where he attended the Met Gala fashion show in New York.
The 36-year-old ruled out comments by Red Bull consultant Helmut Marko who questioned how much pain he was in.
"I don't really listen to what people say. It's natural when a car lands on your head that you feel uncomfortable," Hamilton said.
"I'm not saying I'm dying. Realizing that in a matter of milliseconds anything can happen. I'm so grateful I got away from it unscathed and forget about it."
Hamilton said he would not think too much about the possibility of another crash.
"I think what's important now is that we continue to race hard and honestly and I have no doubt we will both act like professionals and learn from the past.
"I never expect a rider to give in. That's not my approach to every rider. I think at the end of the day we all have to be smart and know there are times when you can't get into a corner."
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