Being Lewis Hamilton’s nemesis isn’t an easy task. Over the years, all of Hamilton’s nemesis have come off worse like Fernando Alonso and Valtteri Bottas. However, as Sergio Perez drops behind in his battle with Max Verstappen, a former Lewis Hamilton nemesis shares his complications with the Briton to sympathize with Checo. Who is the ex-nemesis?

Coming into the 2023 season, Red Bull was expected to be quick. However, the dominance that Max Verstappen has portrayed with his RB19 is in a different league altogether. During the initial races, it looked like Sergio Perez would pose a championship threat to Max Verstappen. However, in the last 5 races, Checo hasn’t managed to get into the Q3 and is just 1 point short of being 100 points behind Verstappen. 

Prior to the Max Verstappen era, it was Lewis Hamilton who dominated the field like the Dutchman. However, there was only 1 year during that era when his teammate beat him. It was Nico Rosberg in 2016. Nico Rosberg recently praised Max Verstappen and put him among the greatest drivers. He then explained the dynamic between Verstappen and his teammate including Checo as he shared his complications with Hamilton.

According to Marca.com, Nico Rosberg said, “But you also see him [Max Verstappen] with his teammates, they’re all going strong and can never be close to him. Also now Pérez, who is a good driver, I know him well, but it is impossible for him to be close to him and that is difficult for them mentally, to accept that the other is better. I know this well because I’ve had the same thing with Hamilton, the complication of having a very fast driver alongside.” [Translated via Google]

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Despite beating Hamilton after what was a fierce battle in 2016, Nico Rosberg recognizes that Lewis Hamilton was a super quick driver. But if Rosberg was able to find a way through to a championship despite Hamilton being alongside him, maybe Sergio Perez can find a way past Verstappen as well. Regardless, let’s see how the German driver praised Max Verstappen.

Lewis Hamilton’s ex-nemesis praises Max Verstappen 

Verstappen and Red Bull are on a roll breaking one record after the other. The Dutchman recently equaled Senna’s win record and has surpassed it now. Nico Rosberg suggests that Verstappen can now be put in the category of Michael Schumacher Lewis Hamilton and Ayrton Senna. 

According to Marca.com, Nico Rosberg said “Verstappen is a phenomenal driver. For me he is going to be at the level of the most important names in history, Senna, Schumacher, Hamilton… he is going to be among the five or six best. He is a phenomenon and the team has also given him a very good car, the best car.”

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What do you think? Do you sympathize with Sergio Perez?

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