Max Verstappen comments on Lewis Hamilton embarrassment after lapping rival

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Red Bull driver Max Verstappen had a perfect weekend in Imola after picking up maximum points – and even got an additional bonus of lapping rival Lewis Hamilton.

The defending champion took eight points in Saturday's Sprint before 25 for his win at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, along with an additional point for the fastest lap, to reignite his title defence following two retirements in the opening three races of the season.

However, Hamilton, who he went toe-to-toe with in a thrilling battle for last season's title, suffered a disastrous weekend and even suffered the embarrassment of being lapped by Verstappen on lap 40 of the race.

That moment naturally attracted a wealth of attention from fans and pundits, providing evidence of just how poor the Mercedes driver is doing this season – with Toto Wolff branding the car 'undriveable' following the race.

Verstappen's assessment on the event will rub further salt into Hamilton's wounds, as the Red Bull ace played down the importance of lapping his great rival by making it abundantly clear he doesn't currently see the seven-time champion as a threat.

"Mercedes has been slow all year, so for me it's not anything exciting, it just happens," he stated in his brief and frank verdict.

Verstappen's successful weekend has seen him surge to second in the Driver's Championships, following what has been a varied start to the season after two race victories and two retirements in the opening four race weekends of the season.

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"It was a good weekend for us, we needed it. I didn't expect us to have a weekend like this. But when you have a weekend at the end like this, that's incredible: a one-two for the team but also maximum points scored. Also the way we handled the race, we didn’t really make any mistakes. A very positive weekend."

Verstappen now sits 27 points behind Ferrari's Charles Leclerc ahead of the maiden Miami Grand Prix in two weeks time, benefitting from the Monegasques' error after a spin saw him concede a podium finish and come home in sixth.

Red Bull also leapfrogged Mercedes to second in the Constructor's Championship and now sit just 11 points behind the Prancing Horse having become the second team to break the 100-point mark this season.

• Formula One
• F1
• Max Verstappen
• Lewis Hamilton

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