Ten-time Formula 1 race winner Gerhard Berger is anticipating a battle reminiscent of the "old days" between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen this season.
The DTM boss was involved first hand in some historic inter team battles and is hopeful that the 2021 championship can offer up something similar.
Two races in and Hamilton and Verstappen a separated by a single point with one win each, after the Dutchman hit back from the disappointment of Bahrain with an excellent drive to win the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola.
F1 returns to action this weekend at Portimao for the Portuguese Grand Prix and discussing the opening two Grands Prix of 2021, Berger said "finally we are seeing a proper race".
“I think after having so many years with just one team dominating and knowing already after the first corner that if Lewis is in front, there’s probably nothing going to change anymore, this year finally we are seeing a proper race,” he told the F1 Nation podcast. “We love to see such a competitive young guy like Max against an experienced guy like Lewis and the story between Mercedes and Red Bull heating up.
"I think that’s what we’re used to from the old days. In my days that was normal, Williams against Ferrari and McLaren and so on.”
Asked if he thinks Verstappen can take a title fight to Hamilton over the entire season, Berger replied: “Why not? I think he’s bloody good!
“I think he doesn’t have the experience of Lewis, and Lewis showed him the way in Bahrain when he sent him off at Turn 4. But Max learns very quickly, and the first corner at Imola, he just said, ‘Lewis, come, try to overtake me – you’re going to go off.'
“So I think he has already good experience, he’s still young and what he doesn’t have, he learns very quick. So I think there’s going to be, most probably, a strong fight.”
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