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澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:“feels perhaps he ♏has a lot to prove”.

Verstappen responded by insisting he has 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:“nothing to prove” with his aggressive moves on Hamilton in the early part of what is shaping up to be an intense title b🐭attle betwe💯en the pair in 2021.

But it was Dutchman who had the lasღt laugh in Monaco as he claimed a🥂 maiden win in the principality while Hamilton could only manage seventh.

The result meant Verstappen overturned a 14-point deficit t♕o move into the lead of the world championship for the fi﷽rst time in his career.

And Verstappen quipped his points lead shows 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:“actioᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚns always speak louder than wor♊ds” in what appeared to be a cheeky dig at Hamil꧒ton’s pre-race remar🔥ks.

“I’m not playing mind games,” said Hamilton, who now trails Ver🧜stappe👍n by four points heading into the forthcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

“It’s interesting what Christian [Horner, R🌼ed Bull team principal] comes out with but… I couldn’t car🔯e less haha.

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

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

Mercedes boss T♈oto Wolff believes the escalating rivalry between Hamilton and Verstappen on and off the track is great entertainment for F1.

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

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

“This is action on the track and soap 🥀[opera] off the track.”