Lewis Hamilton: Max Verstappen’s dad says he has no respect for driver as a man ahead of Saudi Arabia GP

Max Verstappen’s dad has claimed he has no respect for Lewis Hamilton as a man.

It comes as Max Verstappen could win his first Formula One world title in Saudi Arabia this weekend.

Jos Verstappen told the Daily Mail: "I never speak to Lewis.

"He doesn’t need to speak to me. I’m nothing to him. I respect him as a driver, but the rest… nothing.

"Max and Lewis only speak on the podium, very little. When I see Max with other drivers, I think they get on very well. But with Lewis nothing. Lewis is in his own world.

He added: “I did F1 — compared to Max I was nowhere — but I talk to some of the drivers and they are all very friendly, or just say hello or whatever. We are on the plane together many times, always the same group of drivers and we have a lot of fun.

“But there are ‘some’ drivers who don’t look at you, who look at the ground.”

Talking about former team-mate Michael Schumacher, Jos said: "Michael and I had good contacts. We met personally too. He changed a little bit at the circuit, but he would still be friendly.

"Lewis does it his own way, which you can’t say is wrong because he wins a lot. Yes, he has had team-mates, but he has been in the right environment.

"He made the right decision to go to Mercedes and has had the fastest car for a long time. But he is good, for sure. I respect him as a driver. The rest...

"Max is how he is. Some people like it. Some people don’t. He says what he thinks but doesn’t get involved in political matters, such as what is happening in other countries, like Lewis does.

"Max sees it as a case of doing a job as a sportsman and leaving it at that. Everybody does it their way and that is Max’s way."