Max Verstappen hailed as the 'one guy' who can challenge Lewis Hamilton by Red Bull boss

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina will be the Red Bull driver’s 102 race start.

Given he is such an established name, it is easy to forget Verstappen is just 22 and remains one of the young guns Lewis Hamilton admits are keeping him motivated.

But it is worth remembering that, despite his experience, Verstappen could still eclipse Sebastian Vettel as Formula One’s youngest world champion if he pulls it off next season.

Red Bull boss Christian Horner is certainly convinced, if he can give him the car for the job, Verstappen is the driver best placed to take the fight to Hamilton in 2020.

“He is a veteran at 22 years of age,” says Horner. “He is the one guy in the field who can take Lewis on wheel to wheel.”

Citing Verstappen’s win in Sao Paulo last time out, where he twice had to pass Hamilton to take the win, as a case in point, Horner adds: “You could see in Brazil he is not afraid to get his elbows out and he is a true racer, very much in a Nigel Mansell kind of way.

“He is determined, gritty and you just know when he is behind you that he is going to have a go. He is not going to give up. I would think Lewis respects that.”

Verstappen exchanged some barbed comments with Hamilton after their coming together at the start of this season’s Mexican Grand Prix, something Horner says is indicative of his driver’s determination not to give ground, in or out of the cockpit.

“It is very much part of his make up. Self-assured in the car, confident in his own abilities and he is very honest as well. What you see is what you get,” he said.

And it is clear Hamilton knows a hard charging Verstappen is a force to be reckoned with, while the collision causing rushes of blood of the Dutchman’s early career are disappearing in the rear view mirror.

Horner admits his driver has had some harsh lessons to learn but is quick to point out: “For us it was always obvious that he had the ability.

“But he hadn’t done a lot of racing outside of Formula One in cars. So a lot of the learning he has done has been very public and at the highest level.”

Those lessons have been put great effect this season. Verstappen is already destined for his best campaign in F1, his three victories so far this year taking his career tally to eight and having finally clinched his first pole position in Hungary before adding another in Brazil.

“He has driven with great maturity this year,” says Horner. “He has really stepped up into the role of the senior driver in the team since Daniel (Ricciardo) left for Renault at the end of last year.

“He is very much the complete driver now and some of his performances this year have been remarkable.”

The same can be said for Red Bull given their brave decision to enlist Honda as their engine supplier this season, despite the Japanese manufacturer’s disastrous previous spell with McLaren.

“It has been a transitional year, bringing in the first new engine partner we have had for 13 years, so I’d say it has been a seven out of ten,” says Horner.

“We have achieved three poles, three victories and eight podiums, which considering Honda hadn’t been anywhere near the podium since they came back it has been a great effort by them and the whole team.

“The first year of the relationship has got off to a good start but it has been all about building for next year and the future.

“Mercedes will go into next year as very much the favourites. But in Max I think we have got a driver who can take on Lewis.

“And if we can give him the right tools and the right reliability over a 22 race season, hopefully we can be a contender next year.”

source: express.co.uk