Who can hold a candle to Max Verstappen in the Formula 1 season that is about to start? Record world champion Lewis Hamilton is not, according to a former F1 team manager. This now (indirectly) gave the Mercedes driver a clear swipe.
According to Eddie Joran, former Mercedes series winner Lewis Hamilton can hope to win his eighth title in the 2024 season and thus become the sole record world champion ahead of Michael Schumacher.
According to the former team boss, there is only one driver who can hold a candle to three-time champion Verstappen.
“I only see one Challenger and that is Charles Leclerc,” Jordan told the portal “F1-insider.com” and added warning: “Ferrari must succeed in getting him a car on par with the Red Bull this year build. Otherwise I’ll see nothing when it comes to tension.”
Last year, the Scuderia started as a contender for the title, but quickly had to admit that they couldn’t keep up with the Red Bull car. In the end it was only enough for third place in the constructors’ championship – behind Mercedes.
Speaking of Mercedes: If Jordan himself had a team in the premier class of motorsport – like his Jordan racing team, which took part in a total of 250 Grands Prix between 1991 and 2005 – then the 75-year-old would definitely not rely on Hamilton.
“Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, well-deserved champions indeed, I simply no longer trust that they can keep up with Verstappen because of their advanced age,” Jordan put his finger in the wound of the 39-year-old record world champion and his three-year-old colleague from Aston Martin.
Jordan: There is only one top driver pairing in Formula 1
“If I had a top team now and Max [Verstappen] would not get, there would only be one driver pairing that would be able to take on the fight with Verstappen,” Jordan explained: Namely the aforementioned Charles Leclerc “and as his teammate Lando Norris”!
The McLaren driver “only” ended up in sixth place in the drivers’ standings due to difficulties with his car, which had only been significantly improved over the course of the season. However, Norris has long been considered a possible new world champion – in the right car.