Van der Garde: Verstappen 'can handle' Hamilton

Van der Garde: Verstappen 'can handle' Hamilton

Friday 22 December 2017 12:13

Former Formula One driver Giedo van der Garde has backed Max Verstappen to continue to improve to such a level that he can compete against Lewis Hamilton next season, insisting that the Red Bull driver has grew a lot as a person due to disappointments in the 2017 campaign.

Verstappen is considered to be one of the most promising young drivers in recent history in F1 and already has three Grand Prix victories to his name, including two last season.

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However, Red Bull suffered engine reliability issues in the campaign which meant that the team never really looked likely to challenge Ferrari and Mercedes for more races and the team championship title.

Van der Garde has hailed the development of Verstappen both as a person and as a driver.

"I think Max grew a lot as a person, because he had to deal with all those disappointments on the track," the former Caterham and Sauber driver told Formula 1.

"I think he also grew considerably as a driver. In qualifying, he made an important extra step."

Lewis Hamilton claimed his fourth world championship in 2017 and Van der Garde thinks that Verstappen has what it takes to compete against the Englishman next campaign and in future championship tussles.

"Hamilton is of course a really good driver, as we saw again this year. But I think Max can handle him," Van der Garde continued.

Verstappen has recently signed a new contract with Red Bull until 2020.