Hamilton’s success ‘getting a bit boring’ for Max

Lewis Hamilton’s domination of Formula One is “getting a bit boring” and the time is fast approaching for the younger generation to take over at the top, says Red Bull youngster Max Verstappen.

The Dutch driver hopes he and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, also 22years-old, will be fighting for the Mercedes driver’s throne next year.

“I think it’s good for the sport to have the young guys now coming up and hopefully taking over very soon,” Verstappen said ahead of Sunday’s Brazilian Grand Prix, the first race since Hamilton clinched his sixth title in Texas.

“It’s getting a bit boring seeing Lewis win, so we have to try and change that,” he added at an event to announce a personal sponsorship with pan-European online used car marketplace CarNext.com.

Verstappen has 100 starts and seven wins to his name since becoming the sport’s youngest driver and next season he could yet become the youngest champion.

Hamilton, who can equal Michael Schumacher’s record seven titles and surpass the great German’s 91 wins, will be 35 in January.

“He’s getting older ... so for sure it will stop at one point,” said Verstappen.

“It’s just going to depend on the team, to be honest. It’s not going to depend on Lewis.

“If Mercedes keeps building really dominant cars, for sure he’s going to win. So we just have to make sure as a team that we can beat them.”

Verstappen said engine partners Honda had a breakthrough year in 2019 and he was confident former champions Red Bull, third overall, could be in the mix in 2020.

“I think we are on the right path. When you see the engine power compared to Mercedes and Renault, we are very close to Mercedes now so that is very promising for next year,” he added.