It’s the start of the 2022 F1 season. You’re still recovering from what all happened at the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP. New regulations are in place and you expect Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen to fight it out on the track. However, a few races into the season you discover the Mercedes are nowhere near the pace of Red Bull and the story continues to be the same till the present day. However, a threatening statement has put all the doubts against Lewis Hamilton’s competency to beat Max Verstappen in equal machinery to bed. What is the statement?

Lewis Hamilton recently signed a new deal with Mercedes. Prior to the signing, questions were raised about Hamilton’s retirement and whether the Brit has left something in his tank to challenge Max Verstappen in the coming year. Amid this, F1 legend Jackie Stewart made a scintillating comment as he advised that Lewis Hamilton no longer has the hunger for a world championship.

Regardless, during a recent podcast episode, a similar question popped up when one of the hosts asked if Hamilton could beat Verstappen. It was advised how the Dutchman and the Briton in equal machinery would be a dream scenario and how it would be very fascinating to learn about what happens. They concluded by suggesting that Lewis will be perfectly competent to Max Verstappen over 1 lap and over the race distance if the machine is equal.

According to the Race F1 podcast, the host said, “My gut feeling would be that over 1 lap, Lewis would be perfectly competent with that kind of car and therefore could be a really interesting threat to Max Verstappen over one lap. Then in race trim, we know that Hamilton is relentlessly good in race trim. He’s dogged, determined. He’s got great perseverance, excellent tire management. Knows when to pick his battles. So even if you said that Verstappen would be the faster of the two, I don’t see anything that Verstappen’s doing in races that Hamilton couldn’t in equal machinery.”

However, we know Hamilton isn’t going anywhere for another two years. It’s up to Mercedes now to provide the 7X champion with a competitive car so that he’s able to challenge Max Verstappen. Hamilton even made a fiery statement after signing the deal. 

Read More: Responding to Wolff’s “Wikipedia” Jibe, Verstappen Calls Hamilton ‘6 Time Champ’ in Brutal Insult to Ignite Fresh Controversy

Lewis Hamilton is up and running to challenge Max Verstappen in the coming year

Lewis Hamilton has been behind his team to provide him with a car capable of challenging for the title. The Brit even advised that his team is focusing on the 2024 car now and that the result of the 2023 season doesn’t matter to him. With a fighting spirit like this, Hamilton made a scathing comment as he advised that he and his team still have some unfinished business to take care of.

During the Thursday press conference at the Italian GP, Lewis Hamilton said, “I couldn’t be happier to be extending with this team. We’ve had such an incredible journey together. Mercedes have supported me since I was 13, a long trip and we still have unfinished business, so we are in this together. We’ve got a lot of work to do to get ourselves back to the front, but there’s no place I would rather be.”

What do you think? Will Lewis Hamilton be able to challenge Max Verstappen in equal machinery?

WATCH THIS STORY | Bromance moments between Max Verstappen & Lewis Hamilton