Hamilton dominated F1 from 2014 to 2020, winning six titles in seven years with Mercedes.

However the Brackley-based squad slipped back in the pecking order when new regulations were introduced last year.

The team has emerged victorious just once in that period with Hamilton’s team-mate George Russell securing the win at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix in 2022.

Hamilton’s last F1 victory to date came in 2021 in Saudi Arabia amid his high-pressure championship fight with Verstappen.

When asked by Blick if he would struggle to cope with such a long win-streak after a period of success, Verstappen said: “I did it too. No, wait. That’s not true.

“I was able to get a win every now and then.

“Well, periods like this can happen, but I prefer not to think about it. Because they eat up the necessary energies in you.”

Verstappen dominated this year’s F1 campaign en route to his third title and suggested that key to his success was leaving no stone unturned in the background operation.

“I’m paying close attention to what’s going on behind the scenes,” he said.

“The slightest background noise or problem must be stopped. There’s no other way for a community of interests as large as Red Bull to function.”