Lewis Hamilton has taken a jab at former Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg following earlier comments by Max Verstappen.
After the Belgian Grand Prix, the 2016 Formula 1 champion suggested the Dutchman was back to “his old self” after retiring on the opening lap following contact with Kimi Raikkonen.
Verstappen then responded on Thursday at Monza, dismissing Rosberg’s credibility and claiming he was trying to simply gain attention, something which left Hamilton “in stitches”.
“I don’t really think much of it, to be honest. I thought it was really funny,” he added when asked about the back and forth on Saturday.
“I think Max is generally a really funny guy. I was cracking up when I saw it.”
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Hamilton and Rosberg were once close friends but their relationship deteriorated as they battled at Mercedes with the German retiring suddenly after claiming his world title three years ago.
Nico though has stayed close to F1 and Lewis believes he is simply trying not to be forgotten.
“It’s interesting because obviously we know what it’s like, all the drivers have been here and know what it’s like being criticised publicly,” he commented.
“In the sport, they moan about being criticised and then when people retire, they become those critics. It’s an interesting dynamic.
“Also some of those drivers, unfortunately, become irrelevant when they retire,” he jibed. “They have to hang on and utilise someone else’s light to keep them in the light. That’s the way of this sport I guess.”