Verstappen out to roll Hamilton

DUTCH star Max Verstappen has declared world champion Lewis Hamilton “beatable” and predicted Red Bull was ready to take the fight to the all-conquering Mercedes this year.

Ahead of the season opening Formula One race at the Australian Grand Prix, Verstappen said he was getting stronger as a driver every year and the team was well-placed to threaten the dominant Silver Arrows.

Verstappen enjoyed his best result in the Formula One world championship last year, finishing third behind the Mercedes pair of Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas.

While Hamilton is chasing his piece of Formula One history as he targets Michael Schumacher’s record of seven titles, 22-year-old Verstappen has one last season to become the sport’s youngest world champion if he was to succeed in taking down the Mercedes king.

Hamilton has won five of the past six Formula One world titles, but Verstappen said no one was invincible.

“Everyone is beatable in every sport,” Verstappen said.

“Definitely Lewis has been winning a lot, Mercedes has been winning a lot and as a team we try to make it difficult for them.

“Lewis and the team they both did a great job, so it’s up to us to try and give them a harder time.”

Verstappen last year committed to a long-term future with Red Bull, extending his contract with the team until the end of 2023.

He said there was never any question about committing to the team, which he believed was ready to challenge Mercedes.

“If you are going to stretch it out longer it is going to create a bit of an awkward situation, which I didn’t want because I think from both sides, we feel really good,” Verstappen said. “I feel really good in the team.”