Verstappen doesn't play mind games with Hamilton: "Lewis doesn't want that either"

Verstappen was not very successful at the Baku City Circuit so far. The Dutchman finished eighth in his first year for Toro Rosso and then crashed out twice for Red Bull Racing. In 2019, Verstappen did finish but drove into no man's land in fourth place. However, expectations are high for the 2021 edition.

No Track Walk for Verstappen

On Thursday, many drivers always do a so-called Track Walk first, to take a look at the circuit. Verstappen, however, has no need for that. ''I haven't done a track walk since 2017. It really doesn't interest me. I'd rather lie in bed a few minutes longer. If I want to get to know the track better, I'll drive a bit slower in my warm-up lap. Everyone has a different approach, but I was ready at one point. In the first practice you just keep a margin and then you find out how much faster you can go'', says Verstappen according to Formule1.nl.

In Baku, it will mainly be about slipstream during qualifying and the race. You can help each other with a tow, but who helps who this weekend? ''If you give me a tow, I give you one Max'', jokes Esteban Ocon. ''Within the team, there is usually a rule about who gives a tow to whom, but I don't even know who in our team is going to help who this week. It is very difficult to plan. In the end, you just have to drive the best lap possible under your own steam and see,'' Verstappen said.

Duel with Hamilton

After the Monaco Grand Prix, there was a lot of talk about the psychological games that are played in a year where it gets exciting for the title fight. Lewis Hamilton said before the weekend in Monaco that Verstappen still had a lot to prove, but he retorted after the weekend that he did not want an altercation with the Dutchman.

Verstappen himself states that he wants to do the talking on track, and asked about it again he insists on that. ''If there are maybe mind games coming up, well. I haven't noticed it yet. Lewis also says he doesn't want to play them. We just want to race. Sometimes in a press conference, something is said because it can be a bit emotional or because of how a question is asked, but Lewis and I respect each other and that is very important'', the Dutchman concludes.