Verstappen won't say no to another title fight with Hamilton: 'Would be great for the sport'

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen said he would welcome the challenge of an "amazing" championship rematch with Mercedes rival Lewis Hamilton.

Verstappen raced to a crushing victory at the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday following another one-sided display in his dominant Red Bull machine.

Hamilton finished runner-up to Verstappen, with George Russell third in the other Mercedes.

Verstappen has won five of the opening seven rounds to establish a commanding 53-point title lead over teammate Sergio Perez.

But Mercedes' upturn in form at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya has given Hamilton renewed hope that his dream of a record eighth world title is not over.

A welcomed fight

Hamilton, who suffered a championship defeat to Verstappen at the 2021 season finale in Abu Dhabi, said in Barcelona that he would continue in Formula 1 for as long as possible to fight Verstappen for the title again.

Verstappen is on course to race to a hat-trick of titles this season, but when asked how excited he would be about the prospect of going toe-to-toe with Hamilton next year, Verstappen replied: "It would be great for the sport.

"If there are more teams fighting upfront, and that is what they want to achieve, then honestly, that would be amazing.

"Hopefully, throughout the year, it will get closer, and maybe next year, there will be more teams up there."

Hamilton has only six months left on his Mercedes contract, and the British driver, 38, met with team principal Toto Wolff on Monday in the hope of rubber-stamping a new deal.

The meeting is understood to be one of a series of discussions between Hamilton and Wolff, and not thought to be a definitive moment in negotiations.

It is anticipated that Hamilton's extension will be a multi-year deal, extending