Ex-F1 driver drops the name of ‘another killer’ who could ‘handle’ Max Verstappen in 2025
Giedo van der Garde has revealed the name of a strong candidate who could take the fight to Max Verstappen in the 2025 F1 season.
Follow Us
Max Verstappen speaking (via Total Motorsport)
Max Verstappen, the four-time world champion, has been massively in the limelight since his triumph at last week’s Las Vegas GP. He secured the 2024 drivers’ title with a P5 finish, and while people are still talking about him, Ex-F1 driver Giedo van der Garde has revealed the name of the driver who could take the fight to Verstappen in 2025.
As per the Dutch racer, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton might be seen locking horns with Max Verstappen next year. The former is currently in his last few races with Mercedes before switching to the Maranello-based Ferrari.
Hamilton last fully locked horns against Verstappen in the 2021 season for the world title.
Now I actually saw the Lewis Hamilton I wanted to see. Now you see another killer, and that he is actually the only one who can handle Verstappen.
Giedo van der Garde via GPBlog
Hamilton has performed well in the 2024 F1 season despite operating in an inconsistent challenger. The Brit has so far amassed two Grand Prix wins and he even secured second place in the 50-lap Grand Prix in Las Vegas. Had he done a solid job in qualifying, he could have challenged his teammate for the win.
Lewis Hamilton still has his raw ‘race-pace’ in F1
While Giedo van der Garde has backed Lewis Hamilton to take the fight to Max Verstappen, he has also talked about the reasoning behind it. The Dutchman genuinely believes Hamilton still has the race pace required to compete in F1.
A race is pure experience, and he still has that race pace. Only in that one lap, you have to make the most of it. And again, as you get older, the sharpness comes off. You just lose one or two-tenths. I’ve experienced it myself, you see it with Alonso and so with Hamilton.
Giedo van der Garde via the same interview
During the ongoing season, Hamilton has been outclassed by his much younger teammate George Russell (26) in qualifying. After 22 rounds, their head-to-head stands at 17-5 in favor of the latter.
Keeping in view that the 39-year-old will again go up against a bright young talent in the form of Charles Leclerc at Ferrari, one has to wonder how he will stack up. Leclerc is no slouch when it comes to F1 and is even seen by many as a future world champion.
Stay Updated!
Rishabh Negi
(3244 Articles Published)