Verstappen explained Hamilton's success to the speed of his teammates
According to the Red Bull driver, such high-profile successes of the six-time World Champion are partly due to the fact that he often had the fastest car and not the strongest teammate.
Already in 2020, Lewis Hamilton can match Michael Schumacher's record for the number of championship titles and beat the German for the number of Grand Prix wins. Previously, the Mercedes driver has already topped the historical record book for the number of poles – now he has 88, which is more than Ayrton Senna and Fernando Alonso combined.
According to Red Bull Racing leader Max Verstappen, Hamilton's achievements should be evaluated through the prism of the fact that he often had the best car in F1, and at the same time not the strongest teammate.
Other World Champions drove with Lewis in the same team in different years – Fernando Alonso, Jenson Button and Nico Rosberg – but he also spent two years with Heikki Kovalainen, and the last three years with Valtteri Bottas.
"For many years, Lewis didn't have the best teammates," – Max told. "If you have the right car, you can overtake anyone."
"Lewis is an incredible driver, one of the best ever in F1. But it is important to remember that if you have the best car that allows you to dominate, then the only real rival is your teammate."
Speaking about the possibility of one day becoming Hamilton's team-mate himself, the Dutch driver admitted: "If it happens, then so be it. But I can't say that I dream about it."
Only two drivers in the entire history managed to get ahead of Lewis at the end of the season, driving with him in the same team. This was done by Jenson Button in 2011, when two Britons performed in McLaren, and Nico Rosberg in 2016 in Mercedes.
Button recently recalled the years of performing with Hamilton on Sky Sports.
"We had an interesting relationship," – the driver said. "I joined the team from Brawn, where I won the championship in 2009. Lewis was the champion in 2008 with McLaren."
"I considered speaking with him a kind of challenge. Two Britons in the British team, two title holders. It was an additional pressure for me, but in the end it was even more fun."
"He was incredibly fast, on one lap he is generally the fastest in the history of Formula 1. In races, I was able to impose a fight on him, we fought for victories. Over the past three years, we have managed to win a lot, and I consider some of those victories to be the best of my career. After all, to achieve them, you had to beat Lewis."
