“With Max, It’s Automatic”: Lewis Hamilton’s Father’s Contribution Undermines His Supernatural Talent as Verstappen’s Robotic Ability Outshines

Both Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen are arguably two of the greatest drivers that this sport has ever laid eyes upon. But the duo have had their own, separate and personal journeys. Be that as it may, it has led them both to immortality in the annals of F1 racing. But has either of them gotten the upper hand over the other due to the way they’ve been conditioned from the very beginning?

Hamilton and Verstappen have had polar opposite formative years getting into the sport. While Verstappen was the son of a former F1 driver, Jos Verstappen, the 7x champion was the son of a middle-class Anthony Hamilton. Financials aside, the two fathers had different approaches when it came to mentoring their sons.

Why Lewis Hamilton lacks the cutting edge against Max Verstappen

Anthony Hamilton worked multiple jobs to ensure that his son gets to F1. While Jos Verstappen adopted the tough love attitude to get that killer instinct instilled in the Dutch lion. That being said, did Hamilton’s father dull his son’s supernatural abilities with his nurturing approach?

On the most recent episode of the F1 Nation podcast, Damon Hill explained, “He [Anthony Hamilton] stood on the track and got Lewis [Hamilton] to brake as late as possible and really work to get everything out of yourself. With Max [Verstappen], it’s just automatic. It’s flicking a switch and off he goes. He’s at the Max, no pun intended! He’s literally there, on the limit; all the time.”

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Many would argue that Verstappen had it easier than Hamilton. But for every privilege, Verstappen earned his buck.

Verstappen has always been on the limit

Hamilton has often spoken about how difficult his early karting days were to sustain financially for his father. On the flip side, Verstappen’s father got him a brand-spanking new Kart on the drop of the hat. But Verstappen had earned that right.

Jos Verstappen narrated to Red Bull, “I remember after a few laps, he did the whole track flat out. And because of the vibration of the kart the carburettor was falling off all the time. We did it for one day, and then immediately bought him a bigger go-kart.”

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Is Max Verstappen really the better driver than Lewis Hamilton?