Lewis Hamilton has commended Max Verstappen for a “faultless” season as the Dutchman closes on a third successive drivers’ title; watch all sessions from the Qatar GP on Sky Sports F1, with qualifying Friday and the Sprint Saturday, when Verstappen could become champion
Last Updated: 05/10/23 6:10pm
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Lewis Hamilton insists he has faith in his Mercedes team and is optimistic about his future prospects
Lewis Hamilton insists he has faith in his Mercedes team and is optimistic about his future prospects
Lewis Hamilton has praised Max Verstappen for a “phenomenal” 2023 campaign and says the Red Bull driver and his team have “raised the bar” in Formula 1.
Verstappen is on the brink of winning his third successive drivers’ title going into this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix, with the Dutchman likely to complete his triumph in Saturday’s Sprint.
Since controversially losing out to Verstappen in their fierce 2021 title contest, seven-time world champion Hamilton has rarely offered up praise for his rival.
Asked what Verstappen’s triumph will do for his standing in the sport, Mercedes’ Hamilton said: “I wouldn’t rank him. I think ranking people is an opinion-based thing.
“I think he’s earned his position, he’s done an amazing job with the package that he has.
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Max Verstappen admits he could never have envisaged joining some of the greats of the sport by winning three world titles
“Him and the team have been phenomenal this year, faultless, and I think they’ve raised the bar.
“As a team we have to look at that, and say, ‘ok, these are the areas that we need to develop to be able to match that and compete’.
“I do hope at some stage we can fight them and actually have them in a defending position, but they should definitely enjoy the moment because they’ve worked for it.”
More to follow…
Sky F1’s live Qatar Grand Prix schedule
Friday October 6
- 2pm: Qatar GP Practice One (Session starts 2.30pm)
- 5pm: Qatar GP Qualifying build-up
- 6pm: Qatar GP Qualifying
- 8pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
Saturday October 7
- 1.30pm: Sprint Shootout build-up
- 2pm: Sprint Shootout
- 5.30pm: Sprint build-up
- 6.30pm: SPRINT
- 8pm: Ted’s Sprint Notebook
Sunday October 8
- 4.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Qatar GP build-up
- 6pm: THE QATAR GRAND PRIX
- 8pm: Chequered Flag: Qatar GP reaction
- 9pm: Ted’s Notebook
Will Max Verstappen wrap up his third world championship at the first attempt at the Qatar GP? Watch every session of the Sprint weekend live on Sky Sports F1. Stream F1 and more with NOW for £21 a month for six months
