Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull's Max Verstappen have a rivalry on the F1 circuit equivalent to a football derby. This became more prominent during the 2021-22 championship season when the duo were locked on points going into the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi.
For the first time in almost five decades, Formula One saw such a close contest as the duo entered the season finale at the Yas Marina Circuit with 369.5 points each. A controversial race ensued as Red Bull's Verstappen edged past Mercedes' Hamilton for his first F1 world title. Things have not been smooth between the two top racers since then.
While Hamilton has gone to the extent of calling the Dutchman a 'bully' on the F1 track, the latter has not taken things lying down as well. His recent dig at the British racer can be seen as another example of it.
According to a report by Sky Sports, Hamilton and Tennis legend Serena Williams have committed around 10 million in a bid to become the new owners of Chelsea Football Club. The five-time Premier League champions are in hot water after sanctions were put on the club's owner, the Russian Oligarch Roman Abramovich.
They are currently without an owner after Abramovich distanced himself from the club to save them from any potential sanction from the UK government due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
As the news of Hamilton showing interest to be part of a consortium attempting to buy the club emerged, Verstappen told the PA news agency: "I'm a PSV [Eindhoven] fan and I would never buy Ajax. And if I was going to buy a football club I would want to be the full owner and to take the decisions myself, not own just a tiny percentage.
"I thought he (Hamilton) was an Arsenal fan? And if you are an Arsenal fan going for Chelsea, that is quite interesting. But everyone does what they want with their money, so let's see what comes out of it."
Verstappen placed in the pole position for the sprint race in Imola, Italy, ahead of current championship leader Charles Leclerc, and went on to secure pole for Sunday's race after finishing first in the sprint. He has not had the best of starts to the 2022-23 F1 Championship season, with a win in the second race in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) sandwiched by no results in the first race in Bahrain as well as the third race in Australia.
Meanwhile, Hamilton is also not at his usual best. His only podium finish came in the first race, and he will start the GP in Italy on P14, behind his Mercedes teammate George Russell, who will start on P11.
