Verstappen: Three or four current drivers as good as Hamilton

Max Verstappen reckons there are numerous drivers on the current Formula 1 grid who could match the achievements of Lewis Hamilton.

After claiming his fifth championship in 2018, Hamilton is now the joint-second most successful driver in the history of the sport, with only Michael Schumacher having won more titles with seven. In 2019 he has won eight out of the opening 12 races and is well on his way to his sixth championship.

However, Verstappen believes that a major contributing factor to Hamilton’s success is having the best car, and that other drivers would achieve similar results if they had the same one.

"I’m not purely focused on Lewis," the Dutchman told Motorsport Magazine.

"There are other great drivers in the paddock who can achieve similar things. Looking at the current grid, I think there are three or four drivers with the same capabilities.

"It’s car-dependent. I don’t think he’s had the pressure of a team-mate over the years. He should really have won it in 2016 as well if it wasn’t for engine failure.

"But after the summer break there were a few poor starts and stuff where he lost first place. But he never really had big pressure from his team-mates."

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Verstappen’s father, Jos, believes that his son’s performances in 2019 have perhaps got under the skin of Hamilton.

"You can tell by the things Hamilton has been saying," said Verstappen Snr.

"Why would he respond to rumours? He says that the Honda engine is better than Mercedes now, but I don’t think that’s the case on the straights.

"When you see what kind of races Max has been driving, I don’t think you can be surprised."

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