Button: I'd fear Max over Lewis in the same car

The saga grew wings when Hamilton questioned Verstappen's dominance, unchallenged from outside Red Bull or within it, as Sergio Perez (and all those before him) is being destroyed by the 25-year-old Dutch maestro. Who is already so good, Sir Jackie Stewart believes he must have peaked.

Button, like most of the F1 world, is in total awe of Verstappen and what he is achieving this season, fresh from a record-breaking tenth successive GP victory, this time at the Italian Grand Prix.

Hamilton though is not convinced that Verstappen has had strong teammates to contend with over the years, citing the likes of Fernando Alonso and Button. The latter teammate to Hamilton for three seasons at McLaren, from 2010 until the end of 2012.

Reacting to the saga, the 2009 F1 World Champion told Sky F1: "Lewis has had some very tough team-mates. But, for me, I would be more fearful going up against Max in the same car. I think it is because the car is designed around his style, or he can drive a car that Adrian Newey gives him.

"And Adrian Newey gives him a car that says: this is the quickest car in the world. If you take away front downforce, it will go slower but be easier to drive. And Max is like: right, I have to drive how you made this car and I need to drive it as good as I can. I think he's very good at that and I think a lot of drivers struggle to compete with that."

With that Button aptly sums up what most astute F1 observers are witnessing. Verstappen is a driver that can take the car beyond where others can, by just driving the car he has to his limit. And what he has, thanks to Newey and his design team are some fine cars that require something extra special to maximise, weekend in and weekend out. Step in Max. Here's your RB19. Go play!

Of the current 20 on the F1 grid, Button singled out the trio of F1 drivers that are above the rest: "They are all unbelievable drivers, the best in the world and some of the best we have ever seen in F1. I wish there was more competition at the front between Max, Lewis and Fernando. Those are the three that stand out for me.

"But it's not the way in F1. It's a technology race and Red Bull, fair play to them, they are doing a better job right now," acknowledged Button.

A better job is an understatement, as the Bulls are set to wrap up their second F1 Constructors' title in a row, while Verstappen could clinch his third F1 Drivers' title by the time the sport travels to America.