Max Verstappen gave a cagey response when asked if he would team up with Lewis Hamilton – insisting he ‘wouldn’t mind’ a partnership but stressed he would have ‘nothing to prove’ if they were both driving the same car.

The Dutchman has already won the world championship ahead of the final race at Abu Dhabi on Sunday – but talk has turned to a hypothetical pairing with Hamilton after Red Bull boss Christian Horner claims they held talks with the Brit about teaming him up with his rival.

Horner said he had ‘several conversations’ with the Mercedes star about him joining forces before he penned a £50m-a-year deal with his team – though Hamilton hit back and said it was the Red Bull chief who was courting him.

When asked about the prospect of teaming up with Hamilton ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Verstappen was reluctant to give an answer, saying: ‘What would it add to know? Because it’s not happening. So there’s no point to make up stories if it’s not happening.’

He was asked if he felt he would have anything to prove if Hamilton was put in the same car as him – placing them both on equal footing – and gave a defiant response.

Max Verstappen insists he would have ‘nothing to prove’ if Lewis Hamlton became his team-mate

Hamilton was involved ina row with Christian Horner after he claimed the Mercedes star held talks about joining Red Bull

‘But what do I need to prove? I’ve got nothing to prove, I think. There will always be excuses if one driver is faster than the other. Like “Yeah, but he’s too old now” and that kind of stuff. They [fans] always come up with something.’

Verstappen was then pushed for an answer about whether he would want Hamilton as his team-mate, before responding: ‘I wouldn’t mind, it doesn’t matter. Anyone. I don’t want to put it like now particularly on Lewis. There are so many great drivers as well. Sometimes it just doesn’t work out like that.’

‘We don’t even need to talk about it, because it’s just never going to happen.’

Hamilton’s claims about Horner also led to him saying he didn’t think Hamilton would be interested in having him as a team-mate – though he admitted he would be open to it happening.

‘I would be more than happy to race against Max (Verstappen) in the same car. That would be wonderful. But I don’t think he wants me to be his team-mate.’

Verstappen said he ‘wouldn’t mind’ teaming up with Hamilton but said it would never happen

Asked if he had approached Red Bull, Hamilton said: ‘No. I did not.

‘I checked with everyone in my team and nobody has spoken to them but they have tried to reach out to us. If you are a little bit lonely and are not getting much attention that is the perfect thing to do – just to mention my name. [Horner] is stirring things.’

Earlier, Horner had told Mail Sport: ‘We have had several conversations over the years about Lewis joining.

‘They have reached out a few times. Most recently, earlier in the year, there was an inquiry about whether there would be any interest.

‘But I can’t see Max and Lewis working out together. The dynamic wouldn’t be right. We are 100 per cent happy with what we have.’