Max Verstappen does not appreciate being compared to Lewis Hamilton
Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton are often compared. In 2021, the two battled each other for the world title. In discussions over who is the best driver of all time, the Dutchman is now a major rival for the seven-time world champion. Charles Leclerc discusses the differences and similarities between the two.
Currently, Hamilton is the most successful driver of all time. He has the most wins, the most pole positions and in addition, he is equal to Michael Schumacher in terms of most world titles. Verstappen, on the other hand, is currently on the rise.
The Dutchman scored 50 victories from 2021 until now, putting him on a total of 60 wins. He is also currently the leader in the championship, so there is a chance he could also add a fourth world title to his trophy cabinet this season.
When Leclerc was asked by Italian La Stampa how he would describe Hamilton and Verstappen, the Monegasque explained, “They are both very fast, of course. As for Lewis, I would say he is also very calculating. By that I mean on the track. In the way he moves, how he puts the car down when he is attacking or defending. You just understand how much experience he has and his thoughts behind it.”
Verstappen is known as a different driver. Therefore, Leclerc also argues that the Dutchman has a different trait from Hamilton: “He is a bit more aggressive. He’s more the type who thinks ‘If there’s a gap, I’ll just go for it’.
Kyle Larson’s seemingly overconfident take on beating Max Verstappen has caused quite a stir in the motorsport world. The NASCAR driver claimed he was a better “all-round driver” and could defeat the 3-time F1 champion in anything other than F1 or IndyCar. Verstappen, however, maintained his calm with a dignified response, saying, “We should not have that debate because everyone is good in their own right.” Unsurprisingly, this debate is only gaining speed with 7-time champion Lewis Hamilton now unflatteringly dragged into it.
Here’s why it’s not a surprise. Verstappen and Hamilton had one of the biggest F1 rivalries that ended bitterly. The 2021 championship ended controversially, bringing the Mercedes driver’s 4-year title-winning streak to an end. They still are the current F1 grid’s most successful drivers and, naturally got compared.
On the Missed Apex F1 podcast, host Richard Ready addressed the Larson-Verstappen debate. Co-host Chris Stevens said, “I would disagree with Kyle’s remarks that he has a better shot of winning Monaco in a Grand Prix car than Max does, particularly when he’s talking about Max, who is one of the most versatile drivers.”