4-time Components 1 world champion Max Verstappen has expressed confidence that Lewis Hamilton may emerge as a real title contender with Scuderia Ferrari within the upcoming Components 1 marketing campaign.
The British driver is about to shut an illustrious chapter with Mercedes, a partnership that has spanned 12 seasons and yielded extraordinary success, together with eight constructors’ championships and 6 drivers’ titles. Following the conclusion of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the seven-time Components 1 world champion will embark on a brand new journey with Ferrari, one in every of Components 1’s most iconic groups.
Max Verstappen, whose rise to dominance with Pink Bull ended Mercedes’ period of supremacy, performed a pivotal function within the shift of energy. The Dutch driver famously secured his first championship in a controversial and unforgettable showdown with Hamilton through the last race of the 2021 Components 1 championship, marking the tip of an unprecedented streak for the Silver Arrows.
“They had been the established drive. That they had received a lot and for us we got here in, we wished to attempt to be higher,” the Dutch driver defined in a current interview for The Mirror. “We had been making an attempt to match them and to have that 12 months in 2021 I feel was actually cool.” – he added – “Numerous strain, a variety of tense moments between the groups however in fact I feel it was an amazing rivalry on the time with two wonderful groups going up towards one another. That’s one thing that I’ll all the time recognize.”
Though Lewis Hamilton has secured two victories this season, the latter half of the 12 months has been difficult for the seven-time champion. As his time with Mercedes attracts to an in depth, Lewis Hamilton faces the prospect of ending behind team-mate George Russell in each qualifying battles and the championship standings, casting a shadow over his in any other case stellar tenure with the crew.
Max Verstappen, who has usually been Lewis Hamilton’s fiercest rival, has addressed rising hypothesis in regards to the Briton’s current performances and whether or not they sign a decline as he prepares for a recent chapter with Scuderia Ferrari.
Requested whether or not he believes Lewis Hamilton has what it takes to battle for a title within the crimson automobile subsequent Components 1 season, the Dutchman provided his perspective, responding: “It’s troublesome to say” – the Pink Bull man identified – “All of it relies on how aggressive Ferrari are as nicely. I do really feel that when Lewis has automobile he will get extra motivated naturally. That’s how it’s. Perhaps it’s good for him to have a bit change of surroundings and new motivation as a result of I don’t assume he’ll ever lose it. It’s simply how you utilize it. I feel it’s nonetheless going to be a really aggressive season. So much can occur. For us as nicely, it’s very unknown how aggressive we’re going to be towards one another proper now however that makes it additionally very thrilling as soon as you already know the vehicles are prepared.” – the four-time F1 world champion concluded.