Lewis Hamilton has downplayed Max Verstappen’s recent dominance in F1, saying the reigning champion has battled weaker teammates. Hamilton has three world champions in the same team: Fernando Alonso (McLaren 2007), Jenson Button (McLaren 2010-12) and Nico Rosberg (Mercedes 2014-16). Ta.
Seven-time world champion Hamilton spent most of his time at Mercedes with Valtteri Bottas, who won nine Grands Prix in five years with the German team. Current teammate George Russell is highly regarded as a potential F1 title winner in the future. Verstappen, on the other hand, has yet to go head-to-head with his world-championship teammate. However, Red Bull has faced F1 race winners Daniel Ricciardo (2016-18) and incumbent Sergio Perez (2021-23), while Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz drove Verstappen at Toro Rosso in 2015. Since teaming up with , he has achieved one race victory. On the eve of Verstappen’s 10th straight win at Monza, setting a new F1 winning streak, Hamilton admitted Verstappen’s accomplishments were “less impressive” than previous champion accolades. Hamilton also believes Verstappen’s current dominance over Perez is valued more than his consistent dominance over Bottas. “When I was six tenths ahead of Valtteri[Bottas]in qualifying, they[the media]didn’t say the same thing today when Max was six tenths ahead of[Sergio]Perez. It’s flying,” Hamilton told Sky Sports. “In my personal opinion, Valtteri and my teammates were stronger than Max’s teammates,” he said. “Jenson (Button), Fernando (Alonso), George (Russell), Valtteri, Nico (Rosberg). I’ve had so many people, they’re all very strong, they’re all very consistent, and Max doesn’t compete with drivers like that.”Hamilton has only been exposed to competition within teams throughout his career. In addition, he has experienced many title battles with rival teams. Hamilton’s F1 career began with two intense championship battles with Ferrari, and in 2010 he was embroiled in an interesting battle between his three teams, McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull. After three years of Mercedes dominance and an internal rivalry with Rosberg, changes to the technical regulations have raised Ferrari as a threat. However, Hamilton returned to the throne after defeating four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel twice, and won two more titles for a total of seven titles. Hamilton then fought Verstappen’s Red Bull for the 2021 title, but did not win his eighth title at the final race in Abu Dhabi. Since then, Verstappen and Hamilton have not been able to compete directly while Mercedes has not been able to capitalize on the current technical rules as well as Red Bull. Verstappen was challenged by Ferrari early in 2022, but Red Bull dominated the Maranellos, winning 10 of the final 11 races and taking both championships with a few rounds to go. Red Bull’s overwhelming dominance is still alive and well this year, and the evolved RB19 has won all 14 races. The Austrian team’s dominance over the competition continued to grow this year, with the improved RB19 winning all 14 races. Verstappen has already been on the top step of the podium 12 times, 10 more than his two-win team-mate Perez, and 144 points clear of the standings.
2023-09-06 22:41:47
#Lewis #Hamilton #teammates #stronger #Verstappens #peopleF1Gate.com
