Red Bull team boss Christian Horner says Lewis Hamilton's current mind games are a clear indication that Max Verstappen is getting under the Mercedes driver's skin.
Ahead of this weekend's Monaco Grand Prix, Hamilton was asked about his fierce on-track battles with Verstappen since the start of the 2021 season, stating that the Dutchman was getting his elbows out because he obviously has "something to prove".
But Horner dismissed Hamilton's comments as "rubbish" and mere "mind games".
"Lewis loves all that rubbish so will just let him get on with it," the Red Bull boss told Sky Sports F1.
"Max does his own thing, is his own man. The fact that Lewis feels the need to do that means that actually, Max is probably getting under his skin a bit.
"It’s great, it’s part of the sport. We’re only at the beginning of the Championship, we’re not even anywhere near halfway yet.
"Can you imagine what it is going to be like by the time, if they are that close, going into the last few races?"
Hamilton wasn't the only member of the Mercedes team pummeled by Horner, with the Briton also singling out team boss Toto Wolff for the Austrian's obsession over Red Bull's flexible rear wing but also for asserting that Mercedes can beat its rival this season without further developing its 2021 car.
"I think Toto’s more focused on our rear wing than he is on next year," Horner added.
"I don’t know what’s going on in their business but Toto knows what’s going on in everyone’s business.
"I would be surprised [if it’s true] because the rate of development is still quite intense so we’ll see. We’ve only done four races."
Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
