Home

Lewis Hamilton’s Ex-Teammate Puts Max Verstappen, With Only Two Titles, Above the 7X Hero Himself

Published 11/22/2022, 8:10 AM EST

Formula 1 is one of the hardest sports to carve a niche out for yourself in. Look at all the greats, Michael Schumacher, Ayrton Senna, Lewis Hamilton, and Sebastian Vettel, just to name a few. They’ve toiled to stack up the numbers in their favor. And it took them an entire career. But Max Verstappen, according to an ex-F1 champion, has already achieved that status.

For the others, it took years of winning to embed their names in the annals of the F1 history books. But Verstappen has arguably just started ‘winning’. That being said, in the eyes of the 2016 Formula 1 World Champion and Lewis Hamilton’s former teammate, Nico Rosberg, the Dutch lion has already established himself as an all-time legend of this sport.

Article continues below this ad

While speaking on Sky Sports F1’s Any Driven Monday, he said, “He is an incredible driver. I think it’s easy to say even now that’s he’s going to be one of the best of all time, if you look at the statistics he actually even is now.”

“He’s a double world champion with all of the race wins that he has, more than (Fernando) Alonso.”

“Is Family More Important, Or Is F1?”: 25-Year-Old Max Verstappen Draws Out Future Plans Amid Growing F1 Drop Outs

Even though for Rosberg, Verstappen is already one of the greats, a certain racing driver feels that the Dutch driver failed to take a leaf out of the German’s World Title victory in Abu Dhabi to help his teammate secure P2 in the Championship.

Could Max Verstappen have helped Sergio Perez at Abu Dhabi?

Lewis Hamilton almost cost Nico Rosberg his championship at the 2016 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Backing him up into 3rd placed Sebastian Vettel while leading the race himself could’ve led to the Brit winning the Championship instead of Rosberg if Vettel had managed to overtake him.

Formula E driver Sam Bird feels that Verstappen could’ve done the same with Charles Leclerc to have helped Perez‘s bid for P2 in the Championship.

Article continues below this ad

On the Chequered Flag podcast, he said, “There’s a specific race I look back at that’s kind of similar, when Nico Rosberg won the World Championship in Abu Dhabi. Max could have done something similar”

“So he could have slowed down, blocked Charles Leclerc a little bit, they would have had a bit of a fight with DRS. But that would have brought Sergio Perez into the game.”

Article continues below this ad

Watch This Story: Donuts galore at Abu Dhabi GP as Vettel joins Ricciardo Verstappen and more in entertaining the crowds

After the Brazilian Grand Prix incident and Perez eventually losing out on P2 at Abu Dhabi, is the relationship inside the Red Bull camp really souring?

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Anirban Aly Mandal is a Formula 1 Author at EssentiallySports. In his pursuit for a Bachelor's degree in Law from Symbiosis Law School, he has written multiple academic papers centered around the domain of motorsports. Not only that, but due to his love for F1, he aims to work as a legal advisor in the most prestigious racing series in the world some day.

Edited by:

Ranvijay Singh

Lewis Hamilton’s Ex-Teammate Puts Max Verstappen, With Only Two Titles, Above the 7X Hero Himself

Could Max Verstappen have helped Sergio Perez at Abu Dhabi?

Trending

Lando Norris Faces Brutal Injury After Party With Martin Garrix Goes Wrong Ahead of Miami GP

Miami GP Organisers Threaten to Revoke Donald Trump’s $250,000 Proposition for the Miami International Autodrome

Liam Lawson’s Surprise Contract Clause Threatens Daniel Ricciardo’s RB Seat

Adrian Newey’s “Personal Issue” With Christian Horner the Reason Behind Red Bull Mastermind’s Exit

F1 Rumor: Lawrence Stroll Offers Adrian Newey $100 Million to Poach Him From Frederic Vasseur and Co’s Interest