Red Bull driver Max Verstappen has played down Lewis Hamilton’s achievements amid the Silly Season which is really firing in Hungary, suggesting Fernando Alonso would have achieved more than the Briton.
With speculation raging that the Hamilton and Verstappen could be Mercedes teammates in the not-too-distant future.
Recently, Red Bull boss Christian Horner said he thinks Verstappen is now a better driver than Hamilton,
“It’s always nice when your boss says things like that about you, but compliments mean as little to me as bad reviews do.”
When asked in Hungary about the prospect of Hamilton and Verstappen being teammates, Horner answered cheekily: “In terms of having those two in one team, I haven’t heard from Lewis that he wants to join.”
But if they do team up, it is clear that 21-year-old Verstappen is not intimidated by Hamilton’s achievements, “There are a lot of good drivers around the paddock who are capable of winning five titles.”
When asked who he thinks is better than Hamilton, Verstappen said: “Maybe Fernando? He would probably have won eight or nine F1 titles in the right team.”
In 312 starts Alonso scored 97 podiums of which 32 were victories, won the F1 world title in 2005 and 2006 but was runner-up on a further three occasions 2010, 2012 and 2013. He also finished third in 2007.
Big Question: How many F1 titles for Fernando in the right car?