It seems like no matter what we do, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton will battle it out one way or the other. While the two have not had the chance of trading blows on the racetrack, in the recent past, the 7x champion and the Dutch lion have never missed a beat when it comes to pulling the other down in the media. A bit of healthy rivalry is all well and good, but now, this debate seems to have boiled over and into the hands of an ex-F1 world champion.

To call Lewis Hamilton a saint in this debacle would be incorrect. It was the 38-year-old Brit who raged this topic out in the first place as he said, “all my team-mates have been stronger than the team-mates Max has had,” in the build-up to the Italian Grand Prix. Verstappen hit back with a “jealous” rant. Now, an ex-Formula 1 legend has dipped his toes into the matter to deliver a brutal reality check to the 7x champion.

Lewis Hamilton silenced by ex-Ferrari driver

Jody Scheckter, the 1979 Formula 1 world champion, is a self-proclaimed Max Verstappen fan. And in the backdrop of Hamilton’s jibe about the quality of Verstappen’s teammates and Red Bull’s dominance, the South African has issued a thundering prophecy.

Scheckter told Kicker, “It is unbelievable. He has always been superior to his teammates. It didn’t matter who you put on that team. If it continues like this, it could really become eight world championships.” [translated via Google Translate]

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While Scheckter was brutally honest about his views, another F1 champ took a slightly benevolent approach to tackling Hamilton’s words.

Lewis Hamilton at least has one supporter

In this recent tirade that the Brit embarked on, the general consensus is that Hamilton’s words were misplaced. And even though 2016 champ, Nico Rosberg was surprised at Hamilton’s comments, he doesn’t particularly disagree.

He was quoted by MARCA.com as saying, “It’s strange that Lewis [Hamilton] talks about that, ‘my team-mates were better’. Where did that come from? A bit strange. But I do think he has a point. He had three world champions as team-mates. That says a lot, doesn’t it? So I do think it’s correct.”

On which side of the fence are you standing on in this particular Lewis Hamilton v. Max Verstappen debate?

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