Rea’s all quiet on title talk
Verstappen takes dig at champ’s five crowns
MAX VERSTAPPEN has taken a swipe at Lewis Hamilton and insists his rival is lucky to boast five world titles.
The Red Bull star’s claim comes as Hamilton, who is 65 points clear of Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas ahead of tomorrow’s Russian Formula One Grand Prix, closes in on a sixth crown.
The Brit, 34, has spearheaded Mercedes’ dominance since Bottas arrived as his wingman in 2017, with the Finn winning just five times compared to Hamilton’s 28.
Before Bottas, he partnered 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg after locking horns with Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button at McLaren. And despite Alonso and Button boasting three world crowns between them, Verstappen says Hamilton should count his lucky stars that he has tasted so much success.
“Over the years, Lewis hasn’t had the strongest team-mates,” said Verstappen.
“If you have the right car you can beat everyone.
“Lewis is an amazing driver and one of the best to ■ have raced in Formula One. But he has also had the best car and when you have the dominant car, the only one you are really fighting is your team-mate.” Verstappen’s boss Christian Horner raised eyebrows when he said ahead of this year’s British Grand Prix that his driver would beat Hamilton if they were in identical machinery.
Those comments came amid reports that the Dutchman was being considered by Mercedes as a potential partner for Hamilton. But Silver Arrows boss Toto Wolff has since tied Bottas down to another season while Verstappen remains under contract with Red Bull until the end of next season.
And Verstappen has remained tight-lipped over whether he’d relish the chance to compete in the same car as Hamilton.
He said: “If it happens, it happens, but it is not something I am dreaming of.”
Verstappen was fastest in second practice yesterday, but will serve a five-place grid penalty following changes to his engine.
Hamilton finished fifth and fourth in the opening two practice sessions.
And he said: “It has been a day of discovery and exploring.
“We’ve just been figuring out how we can improve the car but it’s not an easy task.” KAWASAKI’S Jonathan Rea will take it race by race as he goes for his fifth World Superbike Championship.
The Northern Irishman could make it five in a row at MagnyCours in France tomorrow, depending on where title rival Alvaro Bautista finishes in today’s opening race.
But after a crash in the wet yesterday morning, Rea, who leads the standings by 91 points, admitted he is trying not to think about the big picture.
He said: “My first target has to be to win race one and see after that. I want to go out and win all three races.”
Although Rea set the fastest lap in practice two, he ended the day just seventh quickest as PATA Yamaha’s Mark van der Mark’s best lap of 1min 51.852secs was unable to be beaten.