Verstappen: No reason for Hamilton 'to give up or stop now'

Max Verstappen understands the bitter pill that Lewis Hamilton was forced to swallow in Abu Dhabi, but the Red Bull driver sees no reason for his arch-rival to throw in the towel and leave the F1 grid.

On Thursday, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff revealed that Hamilton and himself remained "disillusioned" by the events that unfolded in the final minutes of F1's title decider at Yas Marina.

The Austrian said that it was unlikely that, as a driver, Hamilton would ever overcome "the pain and distress" that had been caused, but he hoped that the Briton would continue racing, hinting that the seven-time world champion could be mulling a sudden retirement from the sport.

But Verstappen doubts that his worthy opponent will decide to call it a day and ride off into the sunset.

"I can understand that the first few days after a race like that, you’re not happy," said Verstappen. "But you should also understand this is racing at the end of day and these things can happen to you.

"I think he should just look back at what he has achieved already.

"That should give him a lot of comfort and should also be that drive to just keep on going because he is still trying to challenge for that eighth title and he can do that again next year.

"So I don’t see any reason to give up or stop now."

• Read also: Verstappen reveals high and low points of 2021 season

Verstappen said that he understood the pain of losing a world title on the final lap of a race, but noted that Hamilton had been there before, in Brazil in 2008, albeit on the winning end of the thriller.

"I don’t feel sorry but I can understand of course that it can be very painful," said the 2021 World Champion.

"But at the end of the day, that’s racing as well, you have to just keep fighting to the end and you know that in racing, anything can happen.

"He also won a championship like that so I think he can understand as well."

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