Verstappen: Points lead won't impact approach to winning

Max Verstappen says his growing points lead in the Driver's championship over arch-rival Lewis Hamilton will not encourage him to take a more conservative approach on race day.

The Red Bull driver's win in the US Grand Prix helped him expand his advantage over Hamilton to 12 points in the standings, with five rounds to go, starting this weekend in Mexico City.

However, Verstappen insists his margin over Hamilton won't incite him to race any less hard than usual.

"Not really, my approach will be the same as the whole year," said the Red Bull charger.

"I always try to score the most available points out there. I always have, like Lewis does, like everyone else does. Of course you always try to keep it clean."

As the fierce battle between F1's top two protagonists intensifies, many expect Verstappen and Hamilton to come to blows once again at some point.

That hypothesis was also shared by Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff who suggested that another clash between the two rivals was almost inevitable, just as it was back in the days of the title showdown between Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost.

But Verstappen preferred to remain oblivious of the past and focus on the present.

"I don’t really think about previous historic fights between two drivers, what they have done, that’s the past," he said.

"I just focus on what I have to do on-track, of course, and that’s to try and do the best I can.

"That’s how, at the end of the day you’re going to win the championship, to try and get the most available points out there and of course beat your rival."

• Read also: Hamilton vows to win title 'in the right way' – without controversy

Although the 24-year-old is fighting for his maiden F1 championship, the 18-time Grand Prix winner is brushing off the pressure.

"I like what I’m doing so that takes the pressure off," Verstappen said. "It’s not the first time I’ve been in a championship fight. Yes, it’s the first time in Formula 1 but not in my life.

"So at the end of the day that doesn’t really change because you need to win and that’s what I have been doing in the past as well, so I need to try to do the same here.

"When the car is capable to win I’ll win. When the car is not capable of winning I won’t win."

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