Lewis Hamilton has commended Max Verstappen for a "faultless" season as the Dutchman closes on a third successive drivers' title; watch all sessions from the Qatar GP on Sky Sports F1, with qualifying Friday and the Sprint Saturday, when Verstappen could become champion
Friday 6 October 2023 14:00, UK
Lewis Hamilton has praised Max Verstappen for a "phenomenal" 2023 campaign and says the Red Bull driver and his team have "raised the bar" in Formula 1.
Verstappen is on the brink of winning his third successive drivers' title going into this weekend's Qatar Grand Prix, with the Dutchman likely to complete his triumph in Saturday's Sprint.
Since controversially losing out to Verstappen in their fierce 2021 title contest, seven-time world champion Hamilton has rarely offered up praise for his rival.
Asked what Verstappen's triumph will do for his standing in the sport, Mercedes' Hamilton said: "I wouldn't rank him. I think ranking people is an opinion-based thing.
"I think he's earned his position, he's done an amazing job with the package that he has.
"Him and the team have been phenomenal this year, faultless, and I think they've raised the bar.
"As a team we have to look at that, and say, 'ok, these are the areas that we need to develop to be able to match that and compete'.
"I do hope at some stage we can fight them and actually have them in a defending position, but they should definitely enjoy the moment because they've worked for it."
Meanwhile Fernando Alonso, another multiple champion and legendary driver in his own right, said on Thursday he had "big respect" for Verstappen's year.
"Big congratulations on any incredible season breaking so many records," said the 2005-2006 champion.
"When you win so many races - and they were not easy races, sometimes they were tricky with weather conditions, we went through June-July all the races were hit by rain on Saturdays or Sundays and it was sometimes tricky - and when you make no mistakes and deliver the job every Sunday, it's big respect."
Asked if Verstappen could yet be compared to other F1 greats he had raced closely against such as quadruple champion Sebastian Vettel and seven-time title winners Hamilton and Michael Schumacher, Alonso replied: "I think honestly I've only been wheel-to-wheel with Michael…"
Pressed if he could therefore compare Verstappen to Schumacher, Alonso replied: "Maybe, yeah. We have to wait and see. I think the next few years will be even better for Max, to be honest. He will keep adding championships so we will compare to Michael even closer in the future."
When Formula 1 debuted in Qatar in 2021, Hamilton showed his support for the LGBTQ+ community by wearing a crash helmet with the Progress Pride flag on it.
The Brit admitted on Thursday that he found wearing the helmet "nerve-wracking" in a country where same-sex relations are illegal.
Hamilton, who has repeatedly used his platform to raise awareness around human rights issues, says that "every single person could be doing more" to improve the situation, as Qatar begins a 10-year deal to host F1.
"I think it's always good and well raising awareness for things, but it's more about the work that's done in the background, the conversations that you continue to have to have," he said.
"It's such a big machine to shift as well, it's not only the people here, it's a whole country - that's very young, particularly in this part of the world.
"It's taken the west a long, long time to get to where they are, so I think all we can do is just try to be positive when we do come to these places, and do take the opportunity, so that's why I continue to.
"With the flag here, I was really proud of 2021. It was also nerve-wracking because I didn't know how the country would react, but it's amazing when I do meet people who are incredibly grateful for utilising the platform for something like that.
"As a sport we have to continue to work our inclusivity, diversity continues to be an issue."
Friday October 6
Saturday October 7
Sunday October 8
Will Max Verstappen wrap up his third world championship at the first attempt at the Qatar GP? Watch every session of the Sprint weekend live on Sky Sports F1. Stream F1 and more with NOW for £21 a month for six months
