Asked about the comments, Hamilton said: “I have never won a championship in that way. I would never want to. My point of view you get to win in the right way and that’s through sheer determination and hard work.
“If you’re going to lose it, lose it the right way also, with dignity and knowing that you’ve given it your all and you worked as hard as you could.
“All you can do is give it give it your all and work as hard as you can with your team. If it doesn’t work out for you, you live to fight another day.”
There’s no Senna-Prost-style bitter rivalry between this year’s championship contenders but the on-track altercations have continued: they came close to colliding during practice for the United States Grand Prix, and Verstappen called Hamilton a “stupid idiot”, gesticulating to similar effect.
“ I think at the core of everything has to be [about] respect,” said Hamilton when asked about the incident.
“There are kids watching us and they’re looking for us for inspiration and for guidance. There have been a lot of things that have been said that are definitely not good for young kids that are watching.
“I’m just trying remain positive and keep calm and just be respectful to the drivers I’m fighting.”
For Verstappen, born eight years after the first Senna-Prost clash at Suzuka, its all ancient history.
“I don’t really think about previous historic fights between two drivers,” he said. “It’s the past. I just focus on what I have to do on the track to try and do the best I can. And that’s how, at the end of the day, you’re going to win the championship: to try and get the most available points out there to beat your rival.”