Breaking news
Formula 1
Hamilton sees "opportunity" in potential Verstappen team-up
Formula 1 championship leader Lewis Hamilton believes it could be beneficial "in some ways" to have Max Verstappen join Mercedes, as it would allow him to prove he can take on Verstappen in equal machinery.
Valentin Khorounzhiy
Edited: Aug 2, 2019, 1:38 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Verstappen, who has won seven races since joining Red Bull’s main F1 team in 2016, has an existing deal with the energy drinks giant that runs through 2020.
However, it is understood there are performance clauses that could allow for the contract to be terminated early, which has led to speculation that Verstappen is an outside contender to replace Valtteri Bottas at Mercedes when the Finn’s current deal runs out at the end of the season.
Read Also:
And while Hamilton has made it clear that he would be glad to see Bottas retain the seat, having enjoyed a harmonious relationship with the Finn since Bottas' arrival in 2017, the reigning champion said he would not be averse to partnering Verstappen.
“I’d honestly have no problem with it. As I said before, I like working with Valtteri and I don’t know how that [Hamilton/Verstappen] dynamic would work for the team,” Hamilton said when asked about the possibility ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix.
“I’m not saying it would or would not - I see positives and potential negatives. Obviously there are always positives and negatives to people that you’re working with, but I have no particular opinion towards it.
“In some ways it works out for me. At the moment I see stories that it’s because we have different cars and that’s the only way [I beat him] but this gives me the opportunity to show you that’s not the case.”
Verstappen’s stellar performances in 2019 have left him positioned as F1’s in-form driver, but when asked about claims that he was now stronger than Hamilton, the Dutchman said: “I don’t say any of those things. And I also don’t care. What is the most important for me is that I perform on track.”
The Red Bull man is now 63 points behind Hamilton following his second win of the season in Germany, but has reiterated his belief that the victory hasn’t changed the outlook of the title fight.
“With Mercedes having had such a dominant start to this season I think it is really hard to catch them,” Verstappen said. “We are going to try, but I am not thinking about the championship.”
Hamilton, for his part, said “time will tell” if Verstappen could still mount a title challenge this year.
“I think they [Red Bull] have done a great job, they've clearly done a great job in quite a few of the races now,” Hamilton said. “In the last one we didn't do such a great job, we did a pretty bad job. It made their job look even better.
“But nevertheless I think we've got to continue just to focus on ourselves, not be distracted by focusing on others. I think they'll be probably quick here [in Hungary], and there'll be places like Singapore where they'll probably be strong - but they are in general, collectively, slowly catching up.
“It's easier, I would say, to catch up than it is always to stay ahead, to be the leader, in many different aspects, but I think yeah, it's great to see them progressing. We want the competition.”
Additional reporting by Stuart Codling and Scott Mitchell
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB15, makes contact with leader Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1 W10, in the closing stages of the race
Photo by: Hasan Bratic / Sutton Images
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Vettel: Fastest lap chase led to last-lap off in German GP
Next article Revealed: Ricciardo's defence against £10m claim
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Valentin Khorounzhiy
WTCR's April opener cancelled due to coronavirus
WTCR
WTCR
Hungaroring
Mar 13, 2020
WTCR's April opener cancelled due to coronavirus
Australian GP issues update on nine F1 paddock coronavirus tests
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Mar 12, 2020
Australian GP issues update on nine F1 paddock coronavirus tests
Motorsport Games unveils 15 disciplines for 2020
General
General Mar 11, 2020
Motorsport Games unveils 15 disciplines for 2020
More from
Lewis Hamilton
Oscar Piastri on his Singapore puncture: “Ironically, it probably helped”
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
1 d
Oscar Piastri on his Singapore puncture: “Ironically, it probably helped”
Why Ferrari caved in to Lewis Hamilton’s failed Singapore F1 gamble
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
2 d
Why Ferrari caved in to Lewis Hamilton’s failed Singapore F1 gamble
More from
Mercedes
‘I’ll put a pillow under his butt’ – How Toto Wolff wants to solve Kimi Antonelli’s track limits problem
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
1 d
‘I’ll put a pillow under his butt’ – How Toto Wolff wants to solve Kimi Antonelli’s track limits problem
George Russell calls Red Bull "the team to beat" in F1, but Kimi Antonelli adds a key caveat
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
1 d
George Russell calls Red Bull "the team to beat" in F1, but Kimi Antonelli adds a key caveat
Latest news
Tom Cruise interested in racing ARCA car, per NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
15 min
Tom Cruise interested in racing ARCA car, per NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell
Gibbs, Spire and Gabehart argue over contempt and injunction
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
3 h
Gibbs, Spire and Gabehart argue over contempt and injunction
William Byron to run Jeff Gordon throwback Axalta scheme at Phoenix
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
3 h
William Byron to run Jeff Gordon throwback Axalta scheme at Phoenix
Alexander Rossi takes over IR-28 testing as IndyCar pushes new chassis to the limit at Sebring
IndyCar
Indy IndyCar 3 h
Alexander Rossi takes over IR-28 testing as IndyCar pushes new chassis to the limit at Sebring
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe