When 11-year-old Max Verstappen called himself a ‘Lewis Hamilton fan’

When it comes to naming fierce rivalries in F1, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen could easily make a case to top the list. Even before their legendary battle for the 2021 Championship, the two have been battling on the track. However, back when Verstappen was racing karts and Hamilton had just begun his Formula 1 journey, the Dutchman was just another fan.

In an old interview from 2008, when Verstappen was just 11 years old, he spoke of his admiration for veteran F1 drivers. “He talks a lot about Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso, the stars of that time. But he says, ‘I’m a Lewis Hamilton fan’.” reading a 2018 feature from Formule1.nl.

Hamilton was already a star when Verstappen admitted he was an admirer. He had come agonizingly close to winning his first World Championship in 2007, his rookie season, eventually losing out to Raikkonen by just one point.

As the Brit began to dominate the sport in 2014-15, Verstappen’s name began to appear in the paddock for the first time. His early years at first Toro Rosso and then Red Bull showed the Dutch prodigy’s remarkable potential, perhaps even surpassing Hamilton’s.

From Verstappen’s debut until 2020, the two have only battled on track on rare occasions, primarily because Red Bull, the Dutchman’s team, was inferior to Mercedes, which helped Hamilton become seven times world champion

That all changed in 2021, when they fought for the world championship on equal terms, leading to several controversial violations. Of course, Verstappen didn’t look at the seven-time champion from a fan’s perspective; instead, he challenged him head-on.

How the rivalry between Verstappen and Hamilton evolved

There were several heated moments between Verstappen and Hamilton in their scintillating race for the championship. Accidents, collisions, lane violations and more have become the norm every weekend. Off the road, verbal battles ensued.

In the end, Verstappen prevailed, thanks to a controversial season finale in Abu Dhabi that left Hamilton deeply affected. However, he sportily accepted his loss to the Red Bull rider.

Hamilton and Verstappen haven’t had any major on-track clashes since then, as Mercedes went into a slump with the onset of the ground effect era in 2022, something they haven’t come out of even today.

With a lot of water under the bridge since 2021, Hamilton and Verstappen have developed a lot of respect for each other.

It was evident when the defending world champion won a spectacular race in Sao Paulo last weekend. While Hamilton endured a torrid weekend in treacherous conditions at Interlagos, he congratulated Verstappen on his mega drive from P17 to P1.

The 39-year-old commented on Verstappen’s Instagram post after the race, “Amazing leadership, congratulations”. The Red Bull driver even responded: “Thanks man. Appreciate it.”

It seems strange to see this duo so cordial and respectful after all their intense exchanges over the years. However, with Hamilton moving to Ferrari in 2025, there is a chance that Verstappen and Hamilton’s rivalry could reignite if both challenge for the crown again.