20 January 2024 , 06:00
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Eddie Jordan says he would no longer "trust" Lewis Hamilton to have what it takes to beat Max Verstappen to the Formula 1 title.
Hamilton is the most successful driver the sport has ever seen. His seven world titles are matched only by Michael Schumacher, while his 103 race wins put him 12 ahead of the German motorsport legend.
But he hasn't tasted victory for more than two years with Mercedes not at the peak of their powers. Instead, Red Bull rule the roost and Verstappen is on a three-season title winning streak - the Dutchman is also favourite to make it four in a row by the end of the upcoming campaign.
Jordan is a former F1 team owner and worked with some top stars. He gave Schumacher his debut in one race in 1991, before he signed instead with Benetton and recalled several others as he gave his verdict on Verstappen.
"I've already experienced a lot. It was already clear to Michael after the first test drives at Silverstone, [that] he would be Ayrton Senna's challenger," he told German publication F1 Insider. "He was so fast straight away that we thought the stopwatch was crazy.
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"I also worked with Heinz-Harald Frentzen - for me he is still the most underrated Formula 1 driver of all time. He was a gifted natural talent. For me, Max Verstappen is the mixture of Senna and Schumacher."
Jordan sold his eponymous team in 2005 and has not been involved in F1 ownership since, instead forging a career in punditry and media work. If he did still own a team today, he made it clear Verstappen would be the first name on his list when it comes to drivers he would want to have on board.
Otherwise, there would be two more who spring to mind for the Irishman - but he has a reason to snub the elder statesmen of the sport. Jordan added: "If I had a top team now and didn't get Max, there would only be one driver pairing that would be able to take on the fight with Verstappen.
" Charles Leclerc and, as a team-mate, Lando Norris. I simply no longer trust Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, well-deserved champions, to be able to keep up with Verstappen because of their advanced age."
Though Jordan feels Leclerc and Norris could be able to take the fight to Verstappen, Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko told the same publication: "Leclerc and Norris are certainly exceptional talents, but both have shown weaknesses in consistency in the past. Max is not yet at his limit. He will get even better."