Damon Hill believes that Max Verstappen has been less 'feisty' with Charles Leclerc in 2022 than he was with Lewis Hamilton in 2021. Verstappen has enjoyed one of the most dominant F1 seasons to date, with the Dutchman securing 14 victories and taking a second Drivers' Championship with several rounds to spare. At numerous races this season, the Red Bull driver has looked in complete control on his way to victory, often sealing victories with an advantage of several seconds. Hill, the 1996 World Champion, spoke highly of Verstappen's driving and his increased 'maturity' in 2022. "Basically, his performance this year has been pretty sublime," Hill commented on the F1 Nation Podcast. "You have people drawing attention to his lap time consistency during the Mexican Grand Prix, where he kind of lapped within two tenths of a second virtually every lap for about 40 laps. "He has been driving so maturely and so serenely, he's reaching that that next level in terms of how people regard his talent."
Hill: Verstappen hasn't had to fight another team
Verstappen's second Drivers' title was wrapped up at this season's Japanese Grand Prix, several races earlier than his first championship success. When asked about the difference between Max Verstappen's two championship-winning seasons, Hill pointed to a reduced intensity in the battle with Leclerc, compared to last season's contest with Hamilton. "Well, he's not having to fight another team for a world championship, so that feistiness, he didn't seem to have the same reaction to his competition with Charles as he's had with Lewis," added Hill. "There seems to be some sort of, I don't know, difference of opinion between those two [Verstappen and Hamilton], but less so with Charles Leclerc. "Charles was a title contender and Max seemed to kind of deal with it quite comfortably."
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