Red Bull driver Max Verstappen presently leads the F1 drivers’ standings by a whopping 177 points as he glides to a third consecutive world championship victory.
Following the disputed climax of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Red Bull driver controversially beat Hamilton to the 2021 world title, but has since dominated the sport. He defended his title with ease last season and is currently on the verge of a 2023 championship with a 177-point lead.
Verstappen has won 13 of the 16 Grand Prix races this season, but Hamilton has struggled with Mercedes in F1’s new era of restrictions. The seven-time world champion is third in the standings, but he hasn’t won a race in nearly two years.
Despite this, there is still a lot of doubt about Verstappen’s talent, given the nature of his first triumph and the fact that Red Bull is clearly faster than their opponents. However, Coulthard, who is now a Channel 4 pundit, has dismissed claims that the 26-year-old is not up to the standards of a prime Hamilton.
“If I just bring it to Max for a moment,” he stated on the Formula For Success podcast with Eddie Jordan. “I’ve seen a lot of comments saying, ‘you know, he’s overrated, he’s not on the same level as Lewis,’ and that’s just nonsense.”
“Look what he does with that car.” And, while Checo (Sergio Perez) is a very talented and fast race driver, he pales in comparison to what Max has been able to deliver when he’s really on it.”
Perez, 33, was widely expected to challenge his teammate for the championship this season after winning two of the first four races. That thought, however, has not materialized, with the Mexican only managing six podium appearances since.
Verstappen has a chance to win his third title at this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix, and he won’t even have to wait until the race on Sunday. A top-six finish in the Sprint Race on Saturday will give him an unassailable lead.
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Even if Perez finishes second, a seventh-place result would sufficient, whereas an eighth-place finish would suffice if his teammate only finishes third. Christian Horner and his team won the constructors’ championship in Japan last month.
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