Hamilton said before the Monaco Grand Prix weekend he had “done well” to avoid colliding with Verstappen in their wheel-to-wheel battles during the first four races of the season, adding the Red Bull driver 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:“feels perhaps he has a lot to ﷽prove”.

Verstappen responded by insisting he has 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:“nothing to prove” with his aggressive moves on Hamilton in the early p♛art of what is shaping up to be an intense title battle between the pair♓ in 2021.

But it was Dutchman who had the last la♒ugh in Monaco as he claimed a maiden win in the principal🍨ity while Hamilton could only manage seventh.

The result meant Verstappen overturned a 14-point deficit to move into the lead ꦅof the world championship for the first time in his career.

And Verstappen quipped his points lead shows 168澳洲5最新开奖🐷结果:“actioꦚns always speak louder than words” 💫in what appeared to be a cheeky dig at Hamilton’s pre-race remarks.

“I’m not playing mind games,” said Hamilton, who now trails Ve🐷rstappen by four points heading into the forthcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

“It’s interesting what Christi👍an [Horner, Red Bull꧑ team principal] comes out with but… I couldn’t care less haha.

“They did a great job this weekend, and that’s that. We’ve had some good races also. But as I said there🧸 are 17 races to go.

“It’s childish in the end when 🥃you start getting into a war of words.”

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff believes the escalating rivalry between Hamilton and Verstꦦappen on and off the track is gre🦩at entertainment for F1.

“It’s great that we have a fight between two outstanding drivers and the championship has swung in both directions,” Wolꦛff said.

“Things are being said that are good for entertainment and I 🐲would attribute that sentence to the entertainment factor, which is great to talk about it and write about it.

“This ♏is action o൲n the track and soap [opera] off the track.”