For some people, Lewis Hamilton has gone downhill now, whereas Max Verstappen has risen up to the summit. It is basically not the driver’s fault but instead the team of engineers. Mercedes is really suffering in the new cost cap era as opposed to their arch-rivals, Red Bull enjoying their hegemony on the grid. Red Bull, with their engineering partner Honda has been able to build the fastest car on the grid.
Lately, Lewis Hamilton also accepted that “Even when we had the hegemony, we were not as fast as RB19. That’s the fastest car I’ve ever seen.” Evidently, Mercedes had been struggling since last year with their zero side pod concept on W13 last year and W14 this year. They really need to change the design of the car before it gets too late. But looks like it is already past late for the seven-time world champion now.
F1 Pundits Claim It Is The Time For Max Verstappen’s Rise
This current difference in the situations these two champion drivers are in has led the pundits to come to the conclusion that Hamilton is done. But Max is en route to being the best there ever was. Damon Hill, the 1996 champion, believes that “Verstappen can win eight championships because he is ruthless.” Hill explained that in the ordinary world, that means he is selfish and does not look attractive. However, Max Verstappen is a racer, and winning is the most important thing of all. He does not have to be nice to his colleagues on the track. Instead, Verstappen has the right approach to destroy his competitors.
Damon Hill is impressed by the attitude of the Dutchman. A fellow countryman of Max Verstappen, Rob Kamphues, an F1 Pundit, stated the Hamilton-Mercedes era is over for good. It ended after Max Verstappen defeated Lewis Hamilton in the final lap of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The Dutch F1 pundit continued with his argument that the Mercedes team is gradually collapsing with clear signs after the strategy director, James Vowles, and the therapist of Lewis Hamilton, Angela Cullen, were gone. Kamphues mentioned, “The collapse is clear as a lump.”
Change In Dynamic Between Lewis Hamilton And Max Verstappen
People are also wondering how the story of F1 can change in a matter of a couple of years. From 2014 to 2021, it was Max Verstappen who was chasing the level and greatness of Lewis Hamilton. He had the fastest car and was unbeatable. However, everything fell apart for Mercedes and its star racer after the final Grand Prix of 2021. Two years later, the Briton is trying his best to beat Max Verstappen as the Dutch got the fastest car at present.
Hamilton is facing multiple issues with the car where the cockpit is not fine, and neither is the rear downforce. The seat position is too far forward towards the front wheels, unlike the RB19. Lewis Hamilton is not comfortable with the car. Hence, the seven-time champion is not confident enough to go full throttle. However, Red Bull drivers have been lucky to drive the fastest car in the cost-cap era. As a result, Max Verstappen is unbeatable on the straight line. Lewis Hamilton reckoned, “Max gained massive speed on the straight road, and I could not beat him.”