Max Verstappen sent Lewis Hamilton warning from F1 champion

Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen celebrate on the podium — Photo: © LAT Images

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Verstappen sent major Hamilton warning from F1 champion

Fans will hope for a closer world championship fight in 2024

Dan Ripley Global Editor

Professional F1 journalist and analyst

Saturday 13 January 2024 16:59

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Max Verstappen has been sent a direct warning ahead of the 2024 F1 season that Lewis Hamilton could once again prove a major threat.

The 2009 world champion Jenson Button is convinced that the Dutchman will not be able to stroll his way through the season, like he did to win his third consecutive crown last year.

Hamilton and Verstappen of course battled famously in a fiery and epic 2021 championship, with the Dutchman coming out on top following a controversial last lap at the final race in Abu Dhabi.

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Mercedes though have struggled since, having only won one grand prix during that time thanks to George Russell's 2022 triumph in Brazil.

Hamilton finished third in the world championship last year behind Verstappen and Sergio Perez but heads into the new season as not even the best non-Red Bull challenger.

Max Verstappen (left) could expect an even greater Lewis Hamilton (right) to challenge him in 2024 according to Jenson Button

The pair endured a controversial battle for the world championship in 2021

Jenson Button believes Lewis Hamilton is still an elite driver ready to challenge Max Verstappen

Lewis Hamilton is still at his peak

Button, who was team-mates with Hamilton at McLaren between 2010 and 2012, insists though that Hamilton has lost none of his ability and could be better than ever heading into the new season despite having turned 39 years old this month.

"When you've won for so many years and then suddenly that's taken away from you, it can work in two different ways," Button told Sky Sports.

"One, you are just like 'Well, there's no point anymore, I want to retire, I've been at the peak for so long and now I've not won a race in two years'. But also it can make you more hungry to get back to that, and Lewis is in that position right now I think.

"Lewis is as good as ever I would say in terms of his outright speed, but also now he seems much more comfortable in himself and confident in his ability, so he makes fewer mistakes. So he's even better now than he was five or six years ago.

"That's tough [for his rivals]. If he gets a car that's competitive enough to fight for victories, when someone's that strong and that confident in themselves it's difficult to beat, as you can see with Max Verstappen right now."

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