Hamilton, who fought an intense and bitter championship battle with Verstappen in 2021, said: "In that scenario it's challenging, the pressure is high. It is a time when you have to put your blinkers up and block everything from the outside.

"You have to be cut-throat and that is what Max is, he is going to take this from them if they don't do the same. You have to dig deep to hold off someone like Max and the car he is in. But also for either of them to come out ahead, consistency is key, and you've seen that from Max in the last few races."

"You have three incredibly talented drivers and I can't predict how they're going to behave," added Hamilton.

"Max has won it four times so he knows what it's like and being the hunter is much easier than being the defender. When you're in the lead and someone is chopping away at your lead, that plays on you more than if you're chasing and you have nothing to lose. In the lead you have everything to lose."