Lewis Hamilton has issued a stark warning to McLaren’s title-chasing pair Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, urging them to brace for Max Verstappen’s ruthless mentality as the championship enters its final stretch.
With five races remaining, Piastri leads the standings by 14 points over Norris, while Verstappen sits 40 points adrift after a fierce run of three wins and a second-place finish in the last four races.
But Hamilton, who famously battled Verstappen for the 2021 crown, believes the Dutchman’s mindset could yet turn the title race on its head.
“You have to be cut-throat and that’s what Max is,” Hamilton said. “He’s going to take this from them if they don’t do the same. The pressure is high now, and you need to block out all distractions and dig deep to stay ahead of someone like Max.”
The seven-time world champion also noted that Verstappen, chasing from behind, holds the psychological edge. “Being the hunter is easier than being the defender,” Hamilton added.
“When you’re leading and someone is cutting into your advantage, it plays on your mind. When you’re chasing, you have nothing to lose.”
Mercedes teammate George Russell agreed, tipping McLaren as the team to beat but warning against writing off Red Bull.
“The McLaren guys have the fastest car, so it’s theirs to lose,” Russell said. “But Max and Red Bull are relentless, and their consistency has been incredible lately.”
Inside McLaren, both drivers remain free to race each other despite recent collisions in Singapore and Austin.
“We’re starting this weekend with a clean slate,” Piastri said. “We both just want to go out and race.”
While Piastri acknowledged Verstappen’s late surge “He’s come into the fight quicker than I expected”, the Australian remains focused on his own performance.
Norris, meanwhile, admitted the Red Bull star’s form is impossible to ignore. “He’s Max Verstappen, you’d be silly not to give him a chance,” he said. “They’ve been quicker lately, but we still have opportunities.”
Verstappen, for his part, is keeping his sights on perfection. “We know we need to be flawless to the end to have a chance,” he said. “We’ll just try to maximise everything and see where we end up.”
