Since the turbo-hybrid era, Lewis Hamilton has conquered all at Mercedes. His talent and the superior car has left him with close to no competition on many occasions. But, this may no longer be the case as Red Bull’s Max Verstappen is stepping up his game.
The Dutchman has often been compared to Hamilton when it comes to raw pace. But, Red Bull has never been able to provide him a car that can match his capabilities. However, this year, Red Bull’s RB16B is of the same caliber to what Hamilton drives.
Even though Red Bull could not claim a victory at Bahrain, they did have their noses ahead for much of the time. Hamilton’s wheel-to-wheel fight with Verstappen kept everyone on the edge of their seats.
Verstappen revealed how he cherished every moment of the fight with Hamilton.
“When a season begins you never know where you are and I love all of this,” he said.
“The 2021 season will be the hardest in a long time, but for me and the team it can be very stimulating.”
Hamilton, on the other hand, believes that there is always scope for improvement in his quest for excellence.
“It is always a great challenge, very hard. Winning so many world championships does not mean having everything under control, that every year everything goes smoothly, you can always improve in ideas and communication,” said Hamilton.
Hamilton also emphasizes the importance of a team in a sport like F1.
“Basically, the team is like a big boat with a lot of people rowing, but you need to take the best route: the pilot is only one element but it is like the radar pointing towards the right direction.”
With rumours doing the rounds regarding Hamilton’s retirement, this season will be the one to watch out for.
Will Verstappen beat Hamilton in Imola? Let us know in the comments below!