Lewis Hamilton addresses Max Verstappen staying at Red Bull

Lewis Hamilton has shared his thoughts on Max Verstappen extending his contract at Red Bull, arguing he does not think it will make a "huge difference" to his rival's legacy in F1.

The seven-time drivers' champion went toe-to-toe with the Dutchman in the fiercely fought and ill-tempered 2021 season, which went down to the wire with the controversial finale in Abu Dhabi.

However, the adversaries have seldom had the opportunity to reignite their battle, with Hamilton uncompetitive during the contemporary ground effect era and Red Bull now fighting its way back to competitiveness under the new generation of regulations.

Verstappen has been particularly outspoken about his dislike of the new rules, and even flirted with retirement before reupping with the Milton Keynes-based team until the end of 2030.

But the 28-year-old signing a fresh deal was not unexpected to Hamilton, who conceded he barely considered the matter.

"I've not really put any thought to it, so not really," the Ferrari driver responded to media, including RacingNews365, when asked if he was surprised Verstappen extended his contract with Red Bull given his criticism of F1 this season.

And when it was put to him that Verstappen staying is good for the championship, he bluntly replied: "Of course. Why would it not be?"

Hamilton is vying to win a record-breaking eighth drivers' title this season, which would also be his first for Ferrari.

Having won the crown at both McLaren and Mercedes, the Briton does not believe Verstappen, who will be approaching 15 years with Red Bull by the time his new deal expires, needs to win elsewhere to cement his status in F1.

"I don't really have an opinion on that necessarily," Hamilton said when the subject was raised to him. "It doesn't really... I don't know if it makes a huge difference.

"He's with a great team. He's been with them a long, long time, and they just keep going from strength to strength; it's a really amazing place to be and to work, clearly.

"So when you look at the history of drivers that do move around, and some drivers that have moved a crazy amount, sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad.

"But, obviously, the easy thing is always to stay where you're comfortable, and that's his choice, and it's not a bad choice."