Lewis Hamilton has weighed in on the intensifying rivalry between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, claiming that Verstappen may be feeling the pressure from his younger competitor after their recent tussle at Monza. The rivalry, which first flared up at the Austrian Grand Prix with a costly crash, has continued to escalate as the two title contenders find themselves battling at the front of the grid.

The latest chapter unfolded at Monza, where Norris overtook Verstappen with relative ease, something the McLaren driver attributed to Red Bull’s lack of pace at the Italian track. “I was on much fresher tyres… it was expected,” Norris said, downplaying the move.

However, Hamilton believes there’s more to it than just tyre strategy. In an interview after the race, he suggested that Verstappen is beginning to feel the heat from Norris. “Max is a fierce competitor, but I think he’s starting to run scared of Lando,” Hamilton said. “You can see it in the way they raced at Monza—Max didn’t fight back as aggressively as he usually would. Maybe he’s worried Lando is coming for him.”

This comment adds fuel to the growing narrative that Norris could be Verstappen’s biggest challenger this season. With both drivers consistently at the top, the rest of the F1 calendar promises more exciting battles between the two.

As the rivalry intensifies, fans and pundits alike are eager to see how Verstappen responds in the upcoming races, and whether Norris can continue to push the reigning champion to his limits.