"‘He’s one of the greatest drivers ever’ \u2013 Verstappen expecting Hamilton renaissance in 2023"

" 'He's one of the greatest drivers ever' \u2013 Verstappen expecting Hamilton renaissance in 2023 \r\n\r\nDefending world champion Max Verstappen is expecting his rival Lewis Hamilton to be right back in the title hunt this season \u2013 but reckons the Mercedes man isn't the only driver he'll need to fend off to retain his crown.\r\n\r\nVerstappen narrowly beat Hamilton to the title in 2021, and while the Dutchman was able to make it back-to-back championship wins in 2022, the seven-time world champion and his Mercedes team struggled for much of the campaign \u2013 with Hamilton going win-less in a season for the first time in his career.\r\n\r\nHowever, speaking to Sky Sports at Red Bull\u2019s launch of the RB19 last week in New York, Verstappen was adamant that Hamilton could compete for the title again in 2023, as long as Mercerdes get their car right.\r\n\r\n\u201cHe has been one of the greatest drivers ever in the sport, so for sure if he has the car to do it, he can fight for the title again,\u201d said Verstappen. \u201cBut, that\u2019s the same for George [Russell], and the same for Charles [Leclerc], it\u2019s the same for Lando [Norris]. If you give them a car which is capable of winning a championship, they can.\r\n\r\n\u201cBut it\u2019s also about when you have the car, the pressure comes. You cannot afford mistakes or at least you cannot afford big mistakes, but that\u2019s the level of the different pressure you have. But I\u2019m confident that once these guys, they get into a role like that, it is all possible. They have the talent to do so.\u201d\r\n\r\nVerstappen comes into the 2023 season looking to become just the fifth driver ever to win three championships in a row, and while he is excited by the prospect of achieving this record, he says he's unsure where Red Bull currently stack up compared to their rivals coming into the year.\r\n\r\n\u201cWell, my favourite number is of course number three. Of course, you always try to go for it, but I don\u2019t know if we are going to be good enough,\u201d he admitted. \u201cOf course as a team we believe we are, we are very motivated, we come off the back of a very strong year and we are working flat out to try and achieve that.\r\n\r\n\u201cEveryone back at the factory, the whole winter was working flat out and once I came back from my holiday, I was also working flat out to try and be in the best shape possible and once you get back into the car, you know that its go time and you have to deliver.\u201d\r\n\r\nVerstappen will begin his title defence with the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix in March.\r\n\r\n "

"‘He’s one of the greatest drivers ever’ \u2013 Verstappen expecting Hamilton renaissance in 2023"

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