In the world of Formula 1 racing, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen is on the brink of achieving something truly historic. The Dutch driver has already matched the record for most wins in a single season at 13 held by former champions Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel. Verstappen’s dominance in the current season has led many to suggest that we are witnessing the beginning of the Verstappen era in Formula 1. However, the opinion of Lewis Hamilton is somewhat different.
Hamilton, a seven-time world champion himself, was asked about the Verstappen era in a recent interview with Racing News 365. While he acknowledged Verstappen’s impressive form, Hamilton was hesitant to declare the start of a new era just yet. “It is too early to say,” he said. “If we get into next year and they’re dominating again, then yes.”
Hamilton also spoke about how Ferrari, a team that has struggled in recent years, could pose a challenge to Verstappen’s dominance. “The Ferraris have been quicker than them throughout qualifying,” he said. “I think over a single lap probably had better performance on the majority of the season. Now, all they need to do is pick up their race pace, and they’ll be right with them.”
Despite the challenge from Ferrari, Hamilton acknowledged that his own team, Mercedes, faces a much steeper hill to climb if they are to compete with Red Bull and Verstappen. “I think we’ve got a much, much bigger step and steeper hill to climb, but hopefully not impossible,” he said.
Hamilton’s comments highlight the uncertainty that still exists in Formula 1, despite Verstappen’s recent dominance. While the Dutch driver has shown incredible skill and consistency this season, there is still a long way to go before he can be declared the new king of the sport. Ferrari’s resurgence and Mercedes’ determination to bounce back mean that the battle for the championship is far from over.
As for Verstappen himself, he remains focused on the task at hand. With just three races remaining in the 2022 season, he has a chance to set a new record for most wins in a single season. But the young driver knows that there is no room for complacency in Formula 1. “We can’t afford to relax,” he said after his most recent victory in Qatar. “We have to keep pushing until the end of the season.”
