Max Verstappen is a BETTER driver than Lewis Hamilton, insists Red Bull boss Christian Horner – as he claims Britain’s seven-time world champion would struggle if they swapped cars
- Christian Horner believes Max Verstappen is a better driver than Lewis Hamilton
- Red Bull boss backed the Dutchman, 23, to outdo Hamilton if they swapped cars
- Sir Lewis was knighted in 2020 and won BBC Sports Personality of the Year gong
Red Bull boss Christian Horner has claimed Max Verstappen is a better driver than Lewis Hamilton.
Sir Lewis, knighted in the 2020 New Year’s Honours list, won a record-equalling seventh World Drivers’ Championship title in the 2020 season and is widely recognised as one of the best Formula One drivers of all time.
Hamilton, who could become the most successful F1 driver of all time and beat Michael Schumacher’s record if he wins the upcoming 2021 season, drives for Mercedes, which is seen as the fastest car on the grid.
Sir Lewis Hamilton won BBC Sports Personality of the Year after his seventh world title
But Red Bull boss Christian Horner (left) believes Max Verstappen (right) is a better driver
And Horner reckons his driver Verstappen would outdo Hamilton if the pair had to swap cars.
He told RacingNews365: ‘Verstappen is the best, and George Russell’s performance at Mercedes confirmed that for me.
‘Max and Lewis stand out but, while we should definitely not be blind to what Hamilton has achieved, he does have a good package at his disposal. While Max has to get more out of his car.
Verstappen has consistently impressed at Red Bull but has not yet enjoyed Hamilton’s success
‘At Mercedes, a Williams driver can qualify himself directly on the front row and Russell almost won the race.
‘However, if at Red Bull someone has to get into Verstappen’s car, for example if Max had corona, then nobody will reach his level. The others have a hard time compared to Max’s performance.’
Williams driver Russell stood in for Hamilton when the 2020 BBC Sports Personality of the Year had coronavirus, and was leading the Bahrain Grand Prix by ten seconds before pit stop and tyre issues.
Hamilton’s Mercedes deal has expired, meaning the joint-most decorated F1 driver of all time is currently unattached.
The Brit has stated there is ‘lots of work’ going on behind the scenes in terms of contract negotiations to maintain the fruitful partnership between driver and constructor.