Hamilton: 'Max doesn't impress any more than Michael or Fernando'

F1 News

Hamilton is used to it: 'Max doesn't impress any more than Michael or Fernando'
3 September 2023 at 09:52
Last update 3 September 2023 at 11:07

Lewis Hamilton is the driver with the most F1 victories in the history of the sport. The British Mercedes driver knows what winning is and can take it at face value. That Max Verstappen won almost everything this year is impressive, but not necessarily more impressive than other big winners, according to Hamilton.

Hamilton no more impressed with Verstappen than other major F1 winners

Hamilton qualified on P8 for the Italian Grand Prix. A few spots ahead of him, Max Verstappen is on P2 for the start of the race. The Dutchman can break Sebastian Vettel's win streak in Monza by winning 10 consecutive F1 races. After qualifying, Hamilton spoke to Sky Sports about what it is like to win and was also asked if he is impressed by Verstappen.

To that question, the seven-time F1 champion said, "We've seen it through history. I'm no more impressed than when Michael [Schumacher] was leading, when Sebastian [Vettel] was leading, when Fernando [Alonso] was winning."

Hamilton no longer number one

With his 103 F1 victories, Hamilton is the record holder, but the Briton has now been without a win for more than a season and a half. Never did Hamilton go so long without a win in his F1 career. The Briton says: "My whole life has been about winning, being the best. But as you get older, you understand that you can't always be number one."

Hamilton continued: "Just learning how to cope with it, and channel any frustrations into your work and how you apply yourself is something I've been able to do overtime, but even better in this period of time. I've worked with my teammates better than I ever have in this past year. I think this has set us up for even better success moving forward."