Max Verstappen is dominating team-mate Sergio Perez this season, and Lewis Hamilton has taken notice.
Lewis Hamilton has called out Max Verstappen’s team-mates (Image: Getty)
Lewis Hamilton has claimed that none of Max Verstappen’s team-mates in F1 have come close to the calibre of his own previous co-workers at Mercedes and McLaren. The Dutch driver is humiliating Sergio Perez this season as he continues to dominate the inter-team battle.
The Dutchman currently leads his team-mate and nearest challenger in the Drovers’ Championship by 138 points with Checo’s most recent victory coming 10 rounds ago at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Since then, Verstappen has asserted his dominance within the Milton Keynes-based team, battering the Mexican’s confidence by matching Sebastian Vettel’s record of nine successive Grand Prix victories.
Speaking to Sky Sports F1 about Verstappen’s dominance, Hamilton said: “I’m no more impressed than when Michael [Schumacher] was leading, when Sebastian was leading when Kimi [Raikkonen] was driving, when Fernando [Alonso] was winning – it’s just the same. I think the [Red Bull] team as a whole is one of the strongest, they’re firing on all cylinders right now.
Click here to join our WhatsApp community to be the first to receive breaking and exclusive F1 news.
Don’t miss… Toto Wolff quizzed on Charles Leclerc approach to replace Hamilton or Russell [LATEST]
“The car is incredible, the drivers are doing an amazing job, very consistent, the pit crew is doing a great job, the mechanics are doing a good job, strategy is doing a good job – on point, you can’t fault them.
“In my personal opinion, all my team-mates have been stronger than the team-mates Max has had: Jenson [Button], Fernando, George [Russell], Valtteri [Bottas], Nico [Rosberg]. I’ve had so many. These guys have all been very, very strong, very consistent – and Max has not raced against anyone like that.”
So impressive is Verstappen’s advantage over Perez, the 25-year-old is on course to break another of Vettel’s records this season. With a gap of 138 points to his team-mate, he could move clear of the 155-point margin by which Vettel won his 2013 Drivers’ Championship.
More F1…
Christian Horner’s reaction says it all as Sergio Perez crash causes red flag [FP2]
Red Bull complete signing of Fernando Alonso prodigy after lengthy pursuit [NEWS]
Italian Grand Prix schedule, weather forecast, TV channel, UK start time [ITALIAN GP]
SUBSCRIBE Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info
Max Verstappen has dominated team-mates throughout his F1 career (Image: Getty)
Despite Hamilton’s criticism, Verstappen’s achievements up against Checo still carry weight. The 33-year-old has regularly experienced the podium in midfield machinery throughout his decade-long F1 career, and his win at Sakhir for Racing Point is one of the most impressive in the sport’s modern history.
However, there is certainly truth to the claims that the likes of Jenson Button, Fernando Alonso and Nico Robserg are much more dangerous opponents to face as team-mates. The trio have four world titles between them and are considered to be among the finest drivers of the modern generation.
Verstappen’s full-time team-mates, meanwhile, have consisted of the likes of Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon, both of whom struggled to adapt after being thrust into the spotlight at Red Bull.
