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Would Verstappen want to be in a team with Hamilton? The champion responds!

12:32, 23 Nov 2023

byOlly Darcy

The season is almost over for Max Verstappen: just one more Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi - where the Dutchman has been the best each time in recent years - and the Red Bull Racing driver can go on a well-earned holiday. When the Dutchman returns to the Austrian team's factory after the turn of the year, he will again meet Sergio Perez as his teammate. That might have been different, English media revealed: Lewis Hamilton had sounded out to Red Bull about whether there might be a spot next to Max Verstappen.

Christian Horner, Red Bull's team boss, had explained that representatives of Hamilton - before the latter signed a new contract with Mercedes - had first sounded out the Austrian team to see if there was anything to talk about. However, Horner did not envisage Verstappen and Hamilton working together because "the dynamics would not be right".

Verstappen would not mind

During the press conference ahead of the weekend in Abu Dhabi, Verstappen was also asked about a possible collaboration with Hamilton at Red Bull. Wouldn't he like to know what it would be like against the Briton in the same team? "What would it add to know? I don't know, but it's not happening. There's no point in making up stories if it's not happening. I wouldn't mind, it doesn't matter to anyone. I don’t want to put it like now, particularly on Lewis. There are so many great drivers as well, so sometimes it just doesn't work out like that." Verstappen said.

Perez's contract expires after 2024, and Lewis Hamilton is committed to Mercedes until 2025.

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8 Comments

Red Bull Cactus 23 November 2023 at 17:52+ 4096

Is this actual news or a rumor?
It would be pretty funny if this was a fact, and Toto/Mercedes should be thankful that Lewis decided to stay.

kingpeppermint 23 November 2023 at 20:35+ 4527

@Red Bull Cactus +234923-11-2023 16:52
Even if Lewis denies it, he management probably called around including Red Bull. It's one of the oldest tricks in the book if you want to get an better deal.

Red Bull Cactus 23 November 2023 at 21:21+ 4096

That's true, inflate your worth by saying/showing that other teams are interested.

Sir Max 23 November 2023 at 15:05+ 1039

This guy........ lol.

RET 23 November 2023 at 14:47+ 2687

It's the end of the season and people need to come up with something to talk about to keep F1 relevant until next year.
Max and ham will never be in the same car, end of story.

F1 Stats fan 23 November 2023 at 14:21+ 1

At the current state Max is in with the consistent high performance level ever since 2020 actually I seriously doubt Lewis or Alonso would win against Max when both at Red Bull.

For sure it will be a closer competition but the ruthless consistency of Max beats everyone and is also the main reason this season the records books are re-written.
* Most wins and highest % of wins
* Most points and highest % of points counting all races
* Winning constructor championship by himself
* Most laps lead and highest % of laps lead
* Most podiums
* Most hattricks in a time where FLAP often doesn't go to winner
* Most wins from pole
* Champion with most races left and winning race with most pit stops
* 44 podiums in last 50 races of which 36 are wins - the 6 not podiums were 2 mechanical retirements, damage by debris, too little fuel and 2 car/set up off weekends.

The Victim Complex 23 November 2023 at 13:56+ 13

Career over for Hamilton if he partnered Verstappen, Max would break him like he did in 21

Ferrarifanatic 23 November 2023 at 13:52+ 14286

Hamilton is so desperate to get away from Toto by the looks of things!
I do believe being Max's team mate will be a career damaging move for Hamilton!