“He’s really going to take the fight to Lewis” – Former champions Jenson Button and Nico Rosberg tip Max Verstappen to join the special list potentially dethroning Lewis Hamilton this season.
With Mercedes struggling and Red Bull impressing in the pre-season testing, there’s genuine hope that the former’s unprecedented run of titles can be halted. And if there’s one driver who can stop the run of Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton, it’s Max Verstappen. This rivalry excites former champion Jenson Button, as revealed on Sky Sport’s F1 Show.
“It’s exactly what we want – to have Lewis up against Max. They are both extraordinary drivers.
“Team-mates fighting for a championship is great but when it’s drivers from different teams, it’s the best. It’s exactly what Formula 1 needs right now. It’s really exciting. Max, as always, is giving it his all, is at the top of his game, and I think he’s really going to take the fight to Lewis.”
Nico Rosberg tips Max Verstappen to be the next ‘non-Hamilton’ champion
Rosberg, the last winner in Formula 1 who doesn’t go by the name of Lewis Hamilton, still considers his former teammate to be the favorite. But if there’s one driver who can mount a realistic challenge, it’s the same driver Button has put his fingers on.
“It still has to go on Lewis because nobody can fathom someone actually beating Lewis throughout the entire season on points. So, the money would still have to go to Lewis.
“But Max Verstappen, in particular, is as close as ever before in pre-season in terms of the odds to beat Lewis to the championship. I don’t think anyone’s been that close for many, many years.”
