Ask anyone and they will say that Max Verstappen is the best driver currently on the grid. The 2x champion has been dominating the scenes in Formula 1 ever since the 2022 season. And as things stand, there’s simply no stopping him. The Dutch lion emerged on the scene as he defeated the last person to hold this mantle, Lewis Hamilton. But while Hamilton currently resides in the upper echelons of the midfield, the debate about who’s the better driver still rages on.

Fans have their own opinions, and the media, too. But the true testament of the great talent of these two drivers can only be appreciated by someone who’s seen them working at close quarters. And who is better to do that than Hamilton’s ex-teammate, Valtteri Bottas.

Valtteri Bottas gives his Lewis Hamilton v. Max Verstappen verdict

While at Mercedes, Bottas was going toe-to-toe with the Brit for championship glory. And while he never really overthrew him, Bottas knows the ins and outs of Hamilton as a racing driver. As for Verstappen, they were always in close proximity to each other on the race track. Hence, he becomes the perfect candidate to end this debate.

On the Beyond the Grid podcast, he attempted to exactly that. He claimed, “Lewis is the fastest teammate I’ve ever had and I think he’s still the fastest driver on the whole grid , ahead of Max [Verstappen] and Charles [Leclerc], for me he’s at the top. He’s very talented, but above all he works very hard, much harder than people think. Most likely he will be the last driver to leave the circuit.” [translated via Google Translate]

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While Hamilton may just edge Verstappen out, both of them are world-class drivers. And as Bottas has the experience of going up against one of them, he offered a teammate of the other some tips on how to cope.

Bottas’ advice to Sergio Perez

What the Finn went through at Mercedes with Hamilton, is similar to the position Sergio Perez faces against Verstappen at Red Bull. Hence, when prompted, Bottas was more than happy in divulging the secrets of taming beasts such as Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.

He told RacingNews365.com, “I’m sure it’s not easy for Sergio, for sure he wants to win so bad. I would say he’s in quite a similar situation to mine, where he’s against the guy that is the most difficult to beat, he’s really consistent, super talented, and he’s trying.”

“I would say try and not to get into a spiral of trying too hard. You know, try and believe in your skill and doing your own thing. It’s easier to say than do, but keep trying to get better.”

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In equal machinery, does Lewis Hamilton really come out on top over the mighty Max Verstappen?