Max Verstappen is the current world champion winning the title two consecutive times. The two rival teams of Mercedes, i.e., Red Bull and Ferrari, did not get the chance to win a title from 2014 to 2020 as the Silver Arrows dominated Formula One during that period. More specifically, only one man ruled the F1 race track, i.e., Lewis Hamilton. Equalling the record of the legend Michael Schumacher of winning the driver’s championship seven times made him a legend too. He is now in the race for the GOAT debate. And if he wins the record-breaking eighth title, there is no doubt he will be accepted by all that he is the GOAT.
But the 25-year-old Red Bull champion has stated he is here for the long haul by dominating the last season. He broke Hamilton’s record of scoring the most points in a single season. Thus marking the beginning of another epic rivalry in F1 motorsport history. The F1 racing track has witnessed many epic rivalries over the years, making the sport more popular.
Lewis Hamilton-Max Verstappen: Another Epic Rivalry In F1 Motorsport?
The rivalries between Niki Lauda and James Hunt, Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost, and Michael Schumacher and Mika Hakkinen are popular worldwide. In light of the emerging new rivalry between Hamilton and Verstappen, the two racers have not spoken too much about it in the past.
But the 38-year-old has finally spoken about it, saying, “he is very young. That’s why he might have a problem with me. But I hope he doesn’t have any. But why would I have any problem with him? He did everything he had to win the 2021 season. That’s his credit. I respect him.” On the other hand, Max Verstappen mentioned in an interview with Motorsport, “I maybe fight with everyone but with Lewis Hamilton it is not the same. Perhaps because of the generation factor, we understand each other better, and we are nice to each other on the race track.”
What’s The Future Of This Rivalry Looks Like?
After winning the 2020 season, Lewis Hamilton came very close to winning the eighth title the next year, albeit the Dutchman got the better of him. Verstappen is young and hungry to win more titles for his team. Red Bull is betting on Max to achieve the feat that Lewis did for the Silver Arrows. Through Max, the Red Bull team looks to rule F1 races for some years. On the other hand, the seven-time champion is in the twilight of his career. He has many more interests other than racing, as he claimed a few months ago.
Lewis Hamilton has got his fashion brand and a film production company. He is also a co-owner of the Denver Broncos, an NFL team. He plans to buy a soccer club someday, probably Manchester United. Hamilton intends to pave the way for black ownership in sports, which he believes there is a real lack of. So the question arises with all these interests in mind will he have one last hunger to beat the Red Bull champion to clinch the coveted eighth title that would make him the ultimate F1 champion, the greatest of all time? Only time will be able to answer that question.
