Hamilton wants title fight with Verstappen
Hamilton wants title fight with Verstappen
Lewis Hamilton hopes Max Verstappen will emerge as a genuine title contender in 2019, suggesting he will grow bored of battling Sebastian Vettel. Hamilton's four-year battle with Nico Rosberg grew increasingly bitter, before his team-mate retired to pave the way for Vettel and Ferrari to emerge.
Verstappen is the most talented youngster to have broken into Formula 1 in years, likely since Hamilton and Vettel did more than a decade ago.
The Dutchman has been hampered by Renault's lack of pace in recent years, with Red Bull unable to challenge Mercedes and Ferrari consistently, prompting next year's switch to Honda power units.
Hamilton hopes that the switch to the Japanese marque pays off, as he sets sights on adding Verstappen to his list of title rivals.
"I need the fight, the challenge," Hamilton is quoted by Blick.
"I do not always want to compete against the same rival. So I'm hoping that Red Bull will be competitive with the Honda engine next year. We need Max in the title fight."
With Ricciardo now moving on, Red Bull is seen as Verstappen's team in 2019 and beyond, despite the promotion of Pierre Gasly from Toro Rosso.
Although Verstappen is unlikely to challenge Hamilton in 2019, Red Bull motorsport advisor Dr Helmut Marko hopes the Dutchman will become Red Bull's second world champion.
"Max did a great job in spite of the often haunted car," Marko said. "He is our hope of the future.
"Unfortunately, there is hardly a track left where we have a great chance."
Marko had thought that another of his protegees would be celebrating a fifth world title in 2018, but it appears Hamilton will take that honour.
He said: "I'm afraid that my prediction with Vettel as world champion was wrong!"
Change your timezone:
Latest News
F1 team announce SHOCK signing weeks after rival departure
- 46 minutes ago
Former team boss quizzed on role in Newey's Red Bull exit
- 1 hour ago
RB reveal STRIKING new livery ahead of Miami GP
- 2 hours ago
EXCLUSIVE: Insider claims F1 Academy and W Series couldn't co-exist
- 3 hours ago
Wolff delivers big verdict on Hamilton behaviour
- Today 18:57
Red Bull partner reveals HUGE F1 2026 entry details
- Today 17:57
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860