Jacques Villeneuve makes a bold claim, says Lewis Hamilton lacks consistency and ‘never had a perfect year like Max Verstappen’

Jacques Villeneuve ranks Max Verstappen higher than Lewis Hamilton in terms of consistency, calling him a 'war machine.'

Jacques Villeneuve makes a bold claim, says Lewis Hamilton lacks consistency and ‘never had a perfect year like Max Verstappen’

Max Verstappen and Jacques Villeneuve (Left, Credits: Twitter) and Lewis Hamilton (Right, Credits: PlanetF1)

In a recent interview with an Italian magazine, Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 World Champion, has ignited a new debate by highlighting the inconsistency in Lewis Hamilton’s career compared to the unwavering brilliance of Max Verstappen. According to the former champion, the Dutchman has always been consistent, unlike Lewis Hamilton. 

According to Jacques Villeneuve, Hamilton’s performances have often fluctuated, creating a sense of inconsistency. “He goes very up and down in performance; it depends on the weekends. But he’s always been like that, every season, even when he was winning. He’s never had a perfect year like Verstappen,” Villeneuve said. These words serve as a reminder that Lewis Hamilton’s success has come with occasional periods of underperformance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Wn3-XG6ZxI

In stark contrast, Villeneuve praised Max Verstappen, highlighting his incredible form and consistent excellence. Villeneuve referred to Verstappen as a “war machine” and “a robot” who consistently delivers top-notch performances.

“Verstappen has always been like that, for years. He’s at his best for the whole season,” Villeneuve marveled. Verstappen’s superlative form, which Villeneuve described as “hallucinating,” has seen him dominate the grid, secure his fifth victory in a row, and is already miles ahead of the rest of the pack. 

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According to Jacques Villeneuve, Fernando Alonso is the only driver that matches Max Verstappen’s consistency

Fernando Alonso and Max Verstappen
Fernando Alonso and Max Verstappen (Credits: ESPN)

Villeneuve went further, identifying another driver who shares Verstappen’s consistency. The Canadian pointed to Fernando Alonso as the only driver on the grid who can match the reigning World Champion’s intensity, saying, “It’s hallucinating how he [Max] does it; maybe only Alonso was comparable.” Villeneuve recognized Alonso’s impressive form since joining Aston Martin, where he has exhibited remarkable consistency. With podium finishes in six out of nine races this season, Alonso’s resurgence is a testament to his incredible consistency.

Villeneuve acknowledged that every driver experiences off days, including Hamilton. However, he highlighted that Verstappen had maintained an unprecedented level of consistency, transcending the occasional dips in form. “If you look at most of the other drivers, they all have ups and downs, often with quite a bit of difference between them. Not him,” Villeneuve pointed out. 

The intense battle between Verstappen and Hamilton dates back to the 2021 season, culminating in a highly controversial finale in Abu Dhabi. Max is 80 points ahead of his nearest contender, teammate Sergio Perez, whereas Hamilton is struggling with an underperforming Mercedes. Hamilton has struggled to secure victories since the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, while Verstappen’s momentum has only strengthened.

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