After passing Lewis Hamilton at Imola previous time, Max Verstappen shared his opinions on the British driver and Mercedes’ early-season form.

Max Verstappen admits he didn’t enjoy passing Lewis Hamilton during the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix because he empathise with his 2021 opponent’s difficulties.

Previous season, the two racers battled for the championship, with the Dutchman winning by a razor-thin margin.

After the first four races of the new season, though, Verstappen’s Red Bull car has pulled away from Hamilton’s faltering Mercedes.

So much so that the 24-year-old managed to lap Hamilton last time out, when the British driver tried to pass midfield vehicles on his route to a 13th-place result.

Verstappen: Hamilton is driving a less than ideal car

Verstappen has shown no signs of revelling in Mercedes’ shortcomings in 2022, admitting that overtaking a car he termed as “not that amazing” gives him no pleasure.

“To be honest, it wasn’t something I was enjoying at the time,” Verstappen has admitted.

“I was just focused on my race, on getting through the traffic as cleanly as possible and winning.

“I mean, it wasn’t like, ‘Oh, I’m lapping Lewis, what an amazing feeling’. I had great battles with Lewis last year, now he’s in a car which is not so great.

“Having said that, of course, George [Russell] does finish fourth in that car, so it is not all horrific, right?”

Verstappen expresses concern for Hamilton’s problem

Despite Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko’s claim that the lapping accident may have prompted Hamilton to withdraw, Verstappen confesses he feels for the 38-year-old.

“George probably had a good start and a good clean first lap, and that helps,” Verstappen said.

“I’d say [Hamilton’s] car had quite a bit more pace than the midfield traffic, but yeah, it was hard to pass.

“I mean, also when there was only one dry line, and when you don’t have, let’s say, a top speed advantage anymore, it makes it a lot harder to judge how far Lewis was off George.

“But clearly the whole weekend George was doing really well.”

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