Max Verstappen: "Several drivers can do the same as Hamilton"
F1 News
Lewis Hamilton has won five Formula 1 world championships and well on his way to a sixth. Hamilton says he wouldn't mind teaming up with Max Verstappen to see who the better driver is in an identical car. The Dutchman believes a lot of drivers would be able to match or beat Hamilton in the Mercedes.
"I have a lot of respect for what Lewis has achieved. But it is also a matter of being lucky within your team: being able to beat your teammate. If that is the case and if you are driving with a team that can win a longer period, then the victories will quickly accumulate," Verstappen told motorsport-magazine.
“I think there are quite a few drivers who could do the same as Lewis: Win five titles. Fernando Alonso could easily have won seven or eight, as he was a phenomenal driver. He just wasn't with the right team at the right time. Looking at the current grid, I think there are three or four drivers with the same capabilities."
According to Helmut Marko and Christian Horner, switching to Mercedes is not possible after 2019: The contract seems to be closed and since the Red Bull is now going well, the use of an exit clause is out of the question.
“I also still believe in winning multiple titles with Red Bull. That has always been the goal. The only thing is that the 2021 regulations are one big question mark for everyone. What will the future offer? That is a question that I cannot answer."