Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton never miss an opportunity to tease each other, whether on or off the Formula 1 circuit. The Dutchman quickly reacted to the participation of the seven-time world champion in a plan to take over the Chelsea club, announced Thursday by Skysports. “I’m a PSV fan and I would never buy Ajax,” Max Verstappen told the British media, referring to past statements by Lewis Hamilton, who said he was an Arsenal fan.
“I thought he was an Arsenal fan. It’s interesting if you’re an Arsenal fan and you’re going for Chelsea,” added the Dutchman, hours into the first practice of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in Imola, Italy. Verstappen also referred to Hamilton’s percentage stake in the project: “If I were to buy a football club, I would want to own everything in order to make the decisions myself, not just own a small percentage. But everyone does what they want with their money. Let’s see what will happen…”
For several years, in fact, Lewis Hamilton has not hesitated to show his preference for another London club, that of Arsenal. “I’ve been a fan since I was 5 years old. It runs in the family,” he told Talksport. The Gunners have also prided themselves on several occasions on the support of the Mercedes driver.
Lewis Hamilton has joined, alongside former tennis world number 1 Serena Williams, one of Chelsea’s three takeover projects, the one led by former Liverpool president Martin Broughton. The two athletes could invest nearly 10 million pounds (about 12 million euros) each in this proposal. On the eve of the 4th race weekend of the season, Verstappen is only 6th, with 25 points (one victory and two retirements), and Hamilton 5th, with 28 points. Far ahead of them, Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc dominates the drivers’ championship, with 71 points on the clock.
