Lewis Hamilton is “halfway to the level” of Max Verstappen, says Helmut Marko

Verstappen has won back-to-back F1 championships and - despite winning in the wake of the 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:2021 F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and the 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:F1 cost cap issue - is the grid’s outstanding performer.
But Hamilton still holds the joint-record🍨 for most titles (seven) and plans to charge back into contention in 2023.
Helmut Marko, the Red Bull consultant, said via Marca: "There are only two drivers in Formula 1 who are halfway to the level of Verstappen, they are Charles Lecler♏c and Hamilton.
"Max drives with more confidence than ever𒉰, with more overview, at the same time becoming a tyre expert.
“For example, he ri꧅des longer on a soft tyre than rivals with a harder compound, I think for him there is no limit.
“He gets in the car and is so confident from the first free practice session, from the first lap th🅺at you can see that when it's wet, it's two seconds faster than the rest in the first laps, everyone has to get closer first."

Christian Horner, Red Bull team principal, has compared Verstappen to 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Sebastian Vettel, who won four titles wi𝓰th the team but has now retired.
"They share the same hunger to win," Horner said.
"But💦 they're two completely different people. Max is a very natural and instinctive driver. Sebastian thought a lot about his driving. I think Max is less 'absorbed' by the details than Sebastian.
“I never look too far, but for me, Max is way abo𓃲ve the rest in Formula 1. I think he can achieve much more if we giജve him a car that matches his talents.”
Hamilton was restricted to sixth in the 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:F1 standings in 2022, his worst-ever result, and didn’t win a single race all season for💫 the first time in h𓂃is career.

James was a sports journalist at Sky Sports for a decade covering everything from Am෴erican sports, to football, to F1.