Max Verstappen Reveals 1 Thing He “Would Never Admit” Despite Constantly Destroying Lewis Hamilton and Others

They say if you believe in something strongly enough, no one can stop you from achieving it. That’s the mantra Max Verstappen has been living by since he joined Formula 1 in 2015. He believed he could be the youngest race winner. He believed he could win the 2021 championship in Abu Dhabi despite being 10 seconds behind Lewis Hamilton with less than 10 laps remaining. Although external factors came into play that night, it was Verstappen who came out on top, sealing his name in the record books.

If asked who they think is the most confident driver on the grid—in terms of themselves, their car, and their team—almost every F1 fan will say it’s Verstappen. It’s true. At the moment, it’s practically impossible for any driver to come close to the level of performance the Red Bull driver can extricate from his car, team, and himself. And he has his belief to thank for the monumental success he’s achieved in his F1 career.

Does Max Verstappen think he’s the best driver on the grid?

Despite all the uproar after the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP, Verstappen knew he deserved the title just as much as Hamilton did. So when he won it, he fully embraced the feeling and what it meant. Instead of carrying on his number 33, he brought back the number 1, displaying how he’s the best driver on the grid. It’s safe to say he’s been living up to the meaning behind the number, demolishing the likes of Hamilton (and the rest of the grid) for the past couple of seasons. 

In an interview with De Telegraaf, he was asked how he’s in sync with everything around him while racing. As quoted by Formula Passion, the reigning champion, said, “A driver must always be convinced of his own abilities. Otherwise, he will never be successful. Even if you are not the best driver, you still need to radiate this concept to those around you and think this about yourself. For example, I would never admit that I’m not the best in the paddock.” [Translated by Google]

Read More: After Demolishing Lewis Hamilton’s Astonishing Record, Max Verstappen Sets Sights on Fernando Alonso

It’s no secret Verstappen walks around the paddock like there’s nowhere else he’d rather be—exuding confidence. He’s had the best car in the field for two seasons now, and he’s ensuring everyone knows he’s the best right now. With a 125-point lead in the championship and on an eight-race win streak, it’s difficult to think otherwise. But the question is: if Hamilton had the same car as him, would he be able to win the championship?

Max Verstappen would still dominate even alongside Lewis Hamilton

Verstappen has always believed he had what it takes to beat Lewis Hamilton, even in machinery slower than the seven-time champion’s. F1 hasn’t gotten to witness their rivalry for what it was after 2021, considering how Mercedes has failed to build a car that could compete with Verstappen ween-in, week-out, in the past two seasons. While Verstappen has dominated the field, Hamilton seems to have lost some of his drive.

According to former F1 team boss Eddie Jordan, Hamilton no longer has what it takes to win a championship. On the Formula For Success Podcast, Jordan said, “I think it’s over. He can still win Grands Prix, but he will need everything to fall into place.” Mercedes hasn’t been able to make everything fall into place like it did between 2014 and 2020, and as a result, Hamilton hasn’t gotten a taste of victory since the 2021 season. Could it be that the 2021 Saudi Arabian GP was Hamilton’s last trip to the top step of the podium?

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Do you believe Max Verstappen is the best driver on the grid based on pure talent, or is it his confidence that makes him so good?