F1: Max Verstappen Fires Back at Lewis Hamilton's Suggestion to FIA

Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton - AUTO-PRIX-F1-AUT-PODIUM
(Photo : JOE KLAMAR/AFP via Getty Images) Second placed Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen (R) walks past third placed Mercedes' British driver Lewis Hamilton on the podium after the Formula One Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring race track in Spielberg, Austria, on July 10, 2022.

Max Verstappen responded to Lewis Hamilton's suggestion of restricting teams from developing their car early for the next season.

Hamilton proposed that the FIA should set a date when all Formula 1 teams could work on their car for next season to implement a level playing field and avoid long periods of dominance of a single team.

"If everyone had a time [to start on the next car], no-one has a head start and then it's a real race.. Maybe that would help everyone be closer the following year," the 38-year-old said.

The seven-time champion acknowledged that he was fortunate to be a part of such teams when Mercedes won eight consecutive Constructors' titles from 2014-2021.

The reigning champion did not take Hamilton's words lightly, noting the Brit's own period of dominance.

"We weren't talking about that when he was winning his championships, so I don't think we should now," the 25-year-old told Sky Sports.

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Verstappen Denies Hamilton of Eighth Title

Verstappen and Hamilton squared off all year in one of the greatest championship battles in the sport's history during the 2021 season, and some even noted that it was one of the most intense battles ever.

The two were tied in points coming into the season's final race in Abu Dhabi, and Hamilton looked poised to win his eighth title after leading nearly all of the race.

However, Verstappen overtook him in the final lap after a safety car and a controversial ruling by race director Michael Masi.

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