Hamilton: Verstappen Chose the Easy Path by Staying at Red Bull

Pulse Sports Team 19:32 - 20 August 2026

Lewis Hamilton believes the easiest path is to remain in a comfortable environment rather than attempting to win a championship with two different teams. This comment comes in response to the news that Max Verstappen will stay with Red Bull until the end of 2030. The Briton, a champion with both McLaren and Mercedes, added that it was “Max’s choice and not a bad one.”

On Thursday, Hamilton was clearly not in the mood to discuss Verstappen, following the announcement of the Dutchman's extended stay at Red Bull Racing.

When reporters in Zandvoort asked if he was surprised by the contract extension, the Ferrari driver reluctantly replied, “I haven’t really given it much thought.”

Pressed further on the importance of Verstappen remaining in Formula 1, he offered an equally indifferent response: “Of course. How could it not be?”

Media sessions with Hamilton typically unfold in one of two ways. If he's in the mood for the obligatory chat with international media, he's cheerful and offers insightful opinions and statements. More often, however, Hamilton makes it clear that Thursday press conferences before a race weekend are merely a duty. In such instances, his answers are brief or evasive, as they were this time in Zandvoort.

Nevertheless, Hamilton did offer an assessment of Verstappen's decision.

He eventually answered a question regarding the Dutchman's decision to remain with his current team. Asked if a true top driver should win a title with two different teams, Hamilton initially said: “I don’t have a specific opinion on that. I don’t know if there’s a huge difference. I think he’s in a great team. He’s been with them for a very, very long time. And they just keep getting stronger. Obviously, it’s a really incredible place to work.”

He then added: “When you look at the history of drivers changing teams, there are some who have moved a lot, and sometimes it’s for the good, sometimes for the bad. But yes, the easiest thing is always to stay where you are comfortable. That’s his choice, and it’s not a bad choice.”

Hamilton was slightly more talkative about the Dutch Grand Prix. He has never won at Zandvoort and aims to change that. “As far as I know, I haven’t won here. I’ve won at almost all other tracks, but I don’t think, I don’t remember winning here before. So I definitely want to change that. I’m extremely motivated.”