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LONDON. — Max Verstappen believes the “incredible” Lewis Hamilton will continue to raise the bar in Formula 1.
The sport’s young star is admitting “he’s pushing me to go until I’m 40” with his relentless march to records.
Hamilton became the most successful F1 driver of all time in terms of race wins on Sunday by claiming a 92nd victory with a typically dominant display at the Portuguese Grand Prix and, although he has yet to sign a new Mercedes contract for 2021, shows no sign of wanting to leave, or slowing down.
He is also building quite the buffer to Verstappen, 23, who is widely viewed as Hamilton’s natural successor as F1’s superstar, but only has nine wins, and the Dutchman paid a fulsome tribute to his main rival’s achievements, while also insisting they will take some beating.
“Lewis says he keeps pushing because he wants to set it very high,” the Red Bull driver said after finishing third at Portimao. “Yeah, I have to work hard to try to get there!
“It’s amazing. What can you say? It’s just incredible. An incredible achievement. Ninety-two victories and I don’t think it stops there. It will go well over 100.
“He’s pushing me to go until I’m 40 years old, or something. It’s a good motivation.”
Verstappen, who stated that Hamilton’s seemingly nailed-on record-equalling seventh F1 world title was also “very impressive”, added: “Everybody knows he’s very quick but what has also been a very strong point is that he’s also very consistent and very rarely makes a mistake.
“That’s why I think also he got to this number so quick.”
Verstappen certainly has time on his side in F1 – he sealed his ninth win as a 22-year-old at Silverstone earlier this season while Hamilton was almost 24 when he got to the same total – although records are currently a distant dream with Red Bull unable to match Mercedes. — Sky Sports.
Online Reporter