Alfa Romeo team principal Frederic Vasseur doesn't think Lewis Hamilton is feeling particularly nervous during his F1 World Championship battle with Max Verstappen despite suggestions stating otherwise. The Frenchman knows Hamilton well as the Briton raced in both Formula 3 and GP2 (now Formula 2) for ART Grand Prix in 2005 and 2006, which was managed by Vasseur at the time. Speaking with RacingNews365.com in an exclusive interview, the team boss knows Hamilton has what it takes to keep a calm head in a championship fight. "I think he was able to manage this kind of situation in 2007 and 2008, and at the beginning his Mercedes story" said Vasseur. "He is a competitor and I have no fear for him, he will be a fighter until the end." Vasseur belies that the fiercest battle isn't between Hamilton and Verstappen, but rather Mercedes and Red Bull. "The performance [of Mercedes] isn't even the problem," Vasseur added. "It's about how Mercedes reacts to what's happening." Nevertheless, Vasseur is impressed with Verstappen is handling himself in the championship fight after first meeting him years ago at karting circuits. "I remember Max perfectly when he was racing go-karts," Vassuer stated. "I was there with Charles [Leclerc] and he went directly to F3 where he was strong. "He has become stronger and stronger in F1. Maybe not in terms of pure pace, but in terms of everything else. He's a strong guy who gets the job done."
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