08 August 2023 , 18:05
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A Formula 1 icon has called out Lewis Hamilton over comments made by the Mercedes driver about rival Max Verstappen's extraordinary dominance.
Verstappen has won 10 races already this season with teammate Sergio Perez taking victory in the other two. That means a perfect record for Red Bull so far as they bid to become the first F1 team to win every race in a full season.
In contrast, Mercedes are again not at the level at which they want to be performing. Hamilton remains without a win since December 2021 – a far cry from his own previous dominance of the world championship.
Mercedes won eight constructors' titles in a row before Red Bull ended that streak. Despite that, the seven-time world champion recently claimed he never had a performance advantage like Verstappen has this season.
But former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya does not agree. The Monaco Grand Prix and Indy 500 winner feels such a claim is disingenuous and believes there were times during that Mercedes streak when Hamilton's car was also head and shoulder above the rest of the field.
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"It's always very nice to complain when you don't win, but when Lewis won he said that the car didn't give him any advantage. Actually, Mercedes' advantage was as big as what Red Bull currently has," he told Formula Passion.
The Colombian was keen to stress that he was not being critical of the Brit's ability, just of his complaints. He added: "I don't want to say that Hamilton isn't good – on the contrary, he is a great driver. But the reality of this sport is that you have to be in the best car."
And Montoya also made it clear that he does not want to exaggerate Verstappen's achievements so far this season, suggesting that the Dutchman's development has been made to look more dramatic by the car he has at his disposal.
He said: "Verstappen is doing a great job at the moment. He seems invincible like when Hamilton won everything, this is the reality. Max is a very good driver, but for now, he has the best car. Verstappen's speed right now is no higher than it was two years ago, it's probably the same. Only that the car is much faster."