Lewis Hamilton has opened up on his private call with Max Verstappen and fear of dying in an F1 crash.
Both drivers are set to take part in the F1 Drivers’ Championship and will be hoping to win the race.
Things didn't always go well for Hamilton and Verstappen as they clashed at the British Grand Prix back in July. Now Mercedes star has explained how he called his rival after the incident:
"I called him after Silverstone, but, again, I don't mean to be patronising, but I am much older. I'm much older and it was important for me to call and to be able to break the ice," he told ESPN.
"I wouldn't have been able to do that when I was 25. I don't hold any hostility against him.
"I feel he's a tremendous talent and I am enjoying racing with him. Do I agree with everything he does? It doesn't even matter.
"What matters is that he does him and he will learn, and all I can control is what I do and how I handle things.
"Whatever happens at the end of the year we are going to be shaking hands and we will be back to fight again the next year."
Hamilton revealed that he tried to avoid "certain scenarios" with Verstappen.
"Yes, I've had to back out of certain scenarios with Max because otherwise we are going to crash, and I'm just like, 'I'll beat him in another way," he said.
"I think, 'If I can just survive this corner, I will challenge and fight him another way, stay close, use strategy and all these different things.'
"But that comes with experience and I really do hope that that pays dividends at the end of the year, but of course you have just got to find the right balance.
“That's really what I'm just trying to do."
F1 drivers are at high risk of death. The 36-year-old has admitted that he has become more mindful of it.
"I would say in my younger days, no, you didn't think about it," he said.
"When you are young, you think you are going to live forever, but I think now, of course, I am more conscious of it, which is why I had more gratitude.
“I definitely wouldn't have been in that head space when I was younger.
"If you think about it a lot, then of course that can affect you and I can't allow that.
“I still love what I'm doing and I know there is a danger factor there.
“I just think I'm grateful the safety is where it is and I know we are progressing the safety next year and the impact structures are improving constantly.
"But I still have so much to do with my time here still. So then you have to compartmentalise it.
“I’m aware of it. I respect that danger bubble and it's exciting also.
"I've just been so excited to get back in the car [since Monza]. I guess if a day comes when I don't want to get back in the car, you know it's time to stop.
“But it doesn't seem to be there yet."
Hamilton wants to win the race in a fair fight.
There's never ever a question about that," he added.
”I would never want to win in that way.
"If that means you don't win at all, at least you have your dignity. I wouldn't want to win any other way; you always want to win the right way."
