Lewis Hamilton vs Max Verstappen: F1 Champion Fans Handed Advantage As Mercedes Renew Rivalry With Red Bull

• Max Verstappen will renew his rivalry with Lewis Hamilton as he seeks to defend his title
• His fans will have 'dedicated stands' in some of the races of the new season
• The Dutchman led a dominant 2022 season to win his second successive championship in two years

Fans of Max Verstappen have reportedly been handed a slight advantage ahead of the 2023 Formula 1 season.

Verstappen will put his title on the line for the second time in his career with Lewis Hamilton leading the drivers angling to take the championship away from him.

And even before the season commences, Daily Express reports that Red Bull fans will have seats set aside for them in specific areas in six of the 23 Grands Prix of 2023.

The said six events include the Spanish, Las Vegas, Dutch, Austria, Hungarian and Belgian Grands Prix. Fans of the rest of the drivers will use the grandstands. Las Vegas will be making a return to the F1 calendar for the first time since 1984.

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Benefits of dedicated F1 stands

The advantages of sitting in the secluded areas set aside for Red Bull fans include getting goodies and a possible paddock tour for two plus getting signed memorabilia.

It would also be interesting to note how the dedicated stands will affect the new AlphaTauri driver Nyck de Vries who was brought in to replace Pierre Gasly. De Vries will become the second Dutch driver in the championship after Verstappen.

Hamilton's message to Verstappen

Sports Brief had previously reported that Hamilton has sent a stern warning to Max Verstappen and all the other Formula 1 drivers, ahead of the 2023 season.

Verstappen beat Hamilton to the F1 title for the second season running this year, after leading a dormant campaign throughout.

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The Red Bull Racing driver benefitted from Mercedes' porpoising challenges, and poor tactical strategy from Ferrari, to win 15 times and set a new record for most races won in a single season. Unlike in 2021, where the competition had to be decided on the last day at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Verstappen won the 2022 season with close to four races to go.