Lewis Hamilton ‘massively excited’ by Max Verstappen Red Bull duel at Bahrain Grand Prix

F1: Can Lewis Hamilton do it again?

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Lewis Hamilton is ‘massively excited’ by the prospect of battling it out with Max Verstappen when the Formula One season starts gets underway with this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix. Verstappen and Red Bull are the team to beat in the curtain-raiser to the F1 campaign after topping the time sheets in pre-season testing.

Hamilton has a record eighth world title in his sights after equalling Michael Schumacher’s record of seven last year.

But the 36-year-old will have his work cut out after Mercedes suffered various issues in testing, finishing fifth fastest.

Verstappen, 23, finished third in the drivers standing’s at the end of last year – and has been widely tipped as Hamilton’s main rival for the drivers’ crown in 2021.

And the British driver is relishing the challenge posed by the 23-year-old and his team-mate Sergio Perez.

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“It’s massively exciting for us as a team,” said Hamilton.

“We’re currently not the fastest, and how are we going to work together, how are we going to unite in order to get to where we want to be?

“And that for me, I can’t tell you… I’m so excited for that challenge and again seeing some of the other teams close, I think it’s going to be great for fans, but I love that collaboration with the men and women in my team in trying to get to our common goal.”

Verstappen remained tight lipped over Red Bull’s chances ahead of the season opener.

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“I have been repeating this now for a few weeks. We will see,” he said when asked if his team could take the fight to Hamilton and his Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas.

Mercedes have won the constructors’ championship seven years in succession, and Verstappen doesn’t want his team to be labelled favourites.

“Because it doesn’t matter,” the Dutchman replied when asked why not.

“What matters is that you perform on track when it counts, and when you can score points.

“I think you just have to focus on your job and stay calm, and stay focused, because it just distracts you and, like I said, it’s just important to focus on the job.”

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