Lewis Hamilton, the Formula 1 icon, is placing his bet on Max Verstappen, the reigning 2023 world champion, to clinch 18 to 19 race victories during the current season. Verstappen’s recent triumph at the Mexican Grand Prix marked his 16th win of the season, surpassing his own previous record of 15 set in 2022. As the season approaches its climax, Verstappen stands on the precipice of becoming the first F1 driver to exceed 500 points in a single season, currently holding 491 points with an additional 86 points available in the remaining races.
Despite Verstappen’s remarkable success, Mercedes, led by their star driver Hamilton, continue to maintain a competitive spirit. They secured a second-place finish at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Nevertheless, Hamilton is optimistic about Verstappen’s potential to achieve even greater milestones. Hamilton expressed his confidence in Verstappen’s future performance, stating,
“Hopefully, these upcoming races will be closely contested, but I would bet that Max will achieve 18 or 19 wins with that car.”
Hamilton’s podium finish in Mexico City reduced the gap to his championship rival, Sergio Perez, to a mere 20 points, providing the Mercedes team with a boost of confidence. Hamilton reflected on the situation, comparing it to the previous year, and emphasized the need for significant changes in their approach for the next season.
Looking ahead to 2024, the 38-year-old driver also managed to secure the fastest lap, indicating that the margin between Mercedes and the 2023 constructors’ champions is narrowing. Hamilton recalled their performance earlier in the year in Bahrain and stressed the importance of ensuring a more competitive stance in the 2024 season opener.
As F1 heads to South America for the upcoming race, Red Bull aims to accumulate at least 35 combined points, with the goal of surpassing Mercedes’ record of 765 points earned in a single season, set back in 2016.
