During the intense 2023 Formula 1 season, Max Verstappen responded sharply to Lewis Hamilton’s claim that the British driver had faced stronger teammates throughout his career than Verstappen has. This exchange highlighted the ongoing tension in the Lewis Hamilton Max Verstappen rivalry as Verstappen questioned whether jealousy might be behind Hamilton’s remarks.
As Verstappen approached a historic milestone at the 2023 Italian Grand Prix—aiming to become the first driver to win 10 consecutive races—Hamilton downplayed the achievement, asserting that his own career featured tougher competition. Verstappen dismissed these comments before the Singapore Grand Prix, calling them disrespectful to his past teammates and pointing out that all of Hamilton’s previous teammates had outqualified him at the Italian GP.
In a pointed reply to the media, Verstappen took a subtle dig at Hamilton’s attitude, suggesting that envy could be a factor.
“In my opinion, it doesn’t have to be about other people’s teammates. It’s about your own performance, how you perform in your race weekends and how you work together with your team. The rest is secondary,”
said Verstappen.
“Maybe there is a little jealousy. Nice for Netflix? That doesn’t really matter to me,”
he added.
Verstappen’s 10-race winning streak began at the Miami Grand Prix in 2023 and lasted through the Italian GP. Despite a rare off weekend for Red Bull at the Singapore Grand Prix, where Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz claimed victory, Verstappen extended his streak further by winning the following nine races into 2024. The Singapore GP was the only race not won by Red Bull during that season, marking a notable exception in an overwhelmingly dominant campaign.
Lewis Hamilton Acknowledges Verstappen’s Current Dominance
Lewis Hamilton described the phase of Verstappen’s success in 2023 as “his period,” recognizing the Dutch driver’s supremacy alongside his team Red Bull’s impressive performance. Speaking with the BBC ahead of the British Grand Prix that year, Hamilton compared Verstappen’s form to other F1 greats who experienced similar peaks during their careers, including himself, Michael Schumacher, and Sebastian Vettel.
“I had it, and I was really, really, fortunate to have it here with this team [Mercedes]. Michael had it, Seb had it, and now it’s Max’s period,”
said Hamilton.
“We just did a better job, and that’s where Max is. You can’t take it away from them.”
Statistics underline Verstappen’s dominance, with the Dutch driver winning 34 of the 44 races held across the 2022 and 2023 seasons. His Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez contributed four wins, leaving only six races that did not go to Red Bull during this stretch, further showcasing the team’s exceptional performance relative to the field.
Context Behind the Rivalry and What Lies Ahead
The verbal sparring between Verstappen and Hamilton highlights the tension in their highly scrutinized rivalry, one marked by both exceptional talent and contrasting personalities. Verstappen’s comments reflect sensitivity to perceived disrespect, while Hamilton’s recognition of Verstappen’s “period” signals a grudging acceptance of the current competitive landscape.
This intense back-and-forth underscores how personal and fiercely competitive Formula 1’s top drivers remain, particularly as Verstappen seeks to cement his legacy by breaking records and extending his winning streak. The rivalry is likely to sustain significant attention from fans and media, influencing both drivers’ approaches as the championship battles continue.
With Verstappen maintaining his form into 2024 and Hamilton pushing to challenge him, the Lewis Hamilton Max Verstappen rivalry remains one of the sport’s most compelling narratives, promising more drama and competition in upcoming races.
