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Max Verstappen has explained that winless streaks – such as the two-year drought currently experienced by former title rival Lewis Hamilton – can \u2018eat up the energy\u2019 inside of you. The Mercedes star hasn\u2019t experienced the top step of the podium since winning the penultimate race of the 2021 season in Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n
While Verstappen dominated the rest of the field in 2023, winning 19 of the 22 races and finishing 290 points clear of team-mate and closest rival Sergio Perez in the Drivers\u2019 Championship, Hamilton was routinely left frustrated.<\/p>\n
The seven-time world champion came within laps of challenging Verstappen for the race victory at the United States Grand Prix, only to cross the line in second place and later suffer a disqualification, alongside Ferrari\u2019s Charles Leclerc, for a technical regulation violation. That was the closest he came to ending his winless streak last season.<\/p>\n
Speaking to Blick, Verstappen was asked about Hamilton\u2019s win drought, replying: \u201cI did it too. No, wait. That’s not true. I was able to win from time to time. Well, such periods can happen, but I prefer not to think about it. Because they eat up the necessary energies in you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Click here to join our WhatsApp community to be the first to receive breaking and exclusive F1 news.<\/strong><\/p>\n Don’t miss… <\/strong> Verstappen issues Hamilton win drought verdict as Wolff gives resignation update[LATEST] <\/strong><\/p>\n The Dutchman was also asked whether or not he misses fighting the seven-time world champion on track, to which he responded: \u201cNo. I was satisfied with how this season went. Sure, I appreciate the battles we once had. But now I especially appreciate the successes that we can celebrate as a team.\u201d\u00a0<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n This winless feeling is still a new one for the seven-time world champion. With a record 103 Grand Prix victories to his name, Hamilton is, statistically, the most successful driver in F1 history. In fact, until last season came and went without a triumph, the 38-year-old had never failed to record a race win across an entire season. Now he has in back-to-back years.<\/p>\n More F1… <\/strong>
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