Lewis Hamilton lavished praise on old foe Max Verstappen ahead of the Dutchman’s Formula One coronation this weekend. Red Bull star Verstappen is set to retain his World Championship, triumphing for the third year in a row. 

The reigning champion needs just three more points to lift the world title. Unusually, that could come in Saturday’s sprint race at the Qatar Grand Prix, meaning he could be the victor Sunday’s Grand Prix. 

Verstappen has shared a tense relationship with Hamilton ever since their dramatic fight for the 2021 crown. The Dutchman controversially won that Drivers’ Championship contest on the final lap of the final race in Abu Dhabi. 

Mercedes and Hamilton have since aimed some bitter digs at Red Bull but the Briton has now shown his true colours by heaping praise on his former rival. Hamilton insists Verstappen has been ‘faultless’ and ‘phenomenal’ in his pursuit of success. 

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“Max has been faultless and no-one can take that away from him,” Hamilton said ahead of Qatar. “He has done an amazing job with the package he has.”

The seven-time champion, who has endured a tough few years watching on while Verstappen dominates, added: “He and the team have been phenomenal. They’ve raised the bar.”

Verstappen has won an incredible 13 of 16 Grands Prix this season. In a year dominated by Red Bull, Carlos Sainz is the only driver outside of the team to taste success, winning in Singapore. Verstappen’s team-mate, Sergio Perez, has won twice. 

“We are having an amazing year and we just come into this weekend and want to win again. And of course I know if I win or whatever on Saturday I win the championship, but we are just very focused on the main job,” Verstappen reflected. 

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The 26-year-old added: “If it’s Saturday or Sunday, I don’t think it matters a lot. It’s always nice to win it at the first possible opportunity.

“To win three championships in a row is never easy. You need a very good car, but I always try to be consistent and not to have too many mistakes.

“The car is in a really great window, except Singapore [last month], but all the other races it was really nice to drive. But it is still easy when driving on the limit to make mistakes and that is what I try to eliminate.”

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