Max Verstappen said it was hard for him to find a reason why Lewis Hamilton should jo

[PapaMoomin]

Max Verstappen said it was hard for him to find a reason why Lewis Hamilton should join him in Red Bull Racing.

Recently Eddie Jordan has made some public statements. One of them was about Hamilton. The former head of the F1 team suggested that the six-time world champion should give up his new contract with Mercedes and face Verstappen at Red Bull Racing.

Jordan's idea did not arouse much enthusiasm in the Dutchman.

- All I'm interested in is winning the championship - answered the question asked by Motorsport.com about Jordan's words. - Well, why would he do that? He wants to win the championship, so do I.

- He was trying to be on the right team to win the championship and he is in it. But let's wait what happens.

[steve_r]

Eddie Rent A Quote Jordan. If you say enough silly things, one of them might eventually come true, and then we can all be amazed at how insightful he is.

Jordan talks as if Hamilton has something to prove. Verstappen is the one with something to prove. And yet he keeps signing long term contracts with Red Bull, instead of trying to get a seat in the best car on the grid. But that is another matter altogether. Eventually I'm sure he will win the WDC - and maybe several - whether that is with RBR or some other team. But while he is the hottest or 2nd hottest property in F1, perhaps his management should be trying to get him into a car that will deliver a WDC.

[ascarracinguk]

such a non story.

not sure why anyone pays attention to Jordan these days. Its not something that Red Bull would want to try and control so would never happen anyway

If Hamilton joined Red Bull or Max joined Mercedes it will benefit neither.

Its not like Hamilton has anything left to prove. The fact he has had 3 world champions as his teammates and beaten them all, along with his racing record speaks for itself.

[thetool]

Originally Posted by ascarracinguk

Its not like Hamilton has anything left to prove. The fact he has had 3 world champions as his teammates and beaten them all, along with his racing record speaks for itself.

Honestly he still has a lot to prove. 3 world champion team-mates yes, and technically he did finish ahead of Alonso in 2007, but only on tie-break. When you consider he was clearly the team's favoured driver, it looks less clear cut.

Jenson Button, solid but not spectacular. His only world title came mostly down to being in the right place at the right time with the Brawn GP car design.

And the only reason Nico Rosberg got anywhere near a world title is the shocking reliability that Hamilton suffered that year.

Top drivers don't have really great team-mates. Schumacher didn't, Senna didn't (usually). It just doesn't make sense from a teams point of view.

I'd say the best driver pairings we've seen in recent years are probably Alonso-Hamilton McLaren 2007 (and we all saw how that panned out) and Raikkonen-Massa at Ferrari, but certainly on the Finnish side of that garage there is a rather unique attitude and he is probably the one top driver of the last 20 years that would be able to be team-mate to anyone on the grid.

It's a real shame that Hamilton and Raikkonen were never team-mates. I think Hamilton would have had the upper-hand, but I also think Raikkonen would have been able to push him closer than any other team-mate he's had.

[ascarracinguk]

Originally Posted by thetool

Honestly he still has a lot to prove. 3 world champion team-mates yes, and technically he did finish ahead of Alonso in 2007, but only on tie-break. When you consider he was clearly the team's favoured driver, it looks less clear cut.

HAHAHAHAHA pull the other one!

2 things, he went to mclaren as a number 2 driver, was given team orders to remain behing alonso in the first part of the season (rightfully), the team only gave equal treatment around canada.

the team clearly favoured hamilton? Proof please....because of course it makes perfect sense to pay millions of dollars to bring in a multiple world champion and then throw your resources behind a completely unproven rookie!!!! LOL!!!!

The fact a complete rookie could get close enough to Alonso to rattle him speaks volumes about hamiltons ability.

beat him on a technicality? no.....beat him

[2 litre Touring Car Star]

Originally Posted by ascarracinguk

HAHAHAHAHA pull the other one!

2 things, he went to mclaren as a number 2 driver, was given team orders to remain behing alonso in the first part of the season (rightfully), the team only gave equal treatment around canada.

Nick Fry was interviewed on Australian radio last year. He was saying that they were interested to have Hamilton join the team. That contributed to Dennis picking Hamilton for the 07 season when he perhaps was reluctant to.

I have no doubt that because Hamilton was an unknown quantity, there may've been some reliance/leaning towards Alonso.

Originally Posted by thetool

the team clearly favoured hamilton? Proof please....because of course it makes perfect sense to pay millions of dollars to bring in a multiple world champion and then throw your resources behind a completely unproven rookie!!!! LOL!!!!

It does seem silly on the surface, but there's more to it. When it was announced Alonso was going to Mclaren (Dec 05), Hamilton wasn't even in the picture. I presume the intention for Mclaren was to win with him. But that changed when Hamilton showed he was of more substance than a typical drive in his first year. Mclaren might've paid Alonso millions, but it meant nothing when there was greater commercial value in Hamilton.

I'm someone who thinks Alonso is better overall (That topic does get blurred). But considering how good Hamilton was straightaway and was an Mclaren/MB product. For however good Alonso is, he wasn't worth Mclaren hiring him (Or Schumacher or anyone else).

Originally Posted by thetool

The fact a complete rookie could get close enough to Alonso to rattle him speaks volumes about hamiltons ability.

Absolutely.

He's a "rookie". But from my observations, first year drivers from the 2000s seem different than before.

Originally Posted by thetool

beat him on a technicality? no.....beat him

I'm going to say ""yes".

Same wins and points total, but Hamilton gets awarded 2nd due to more 2nd places. Not just that, but even from Canada where you said that's when they were getting equal treatment, it was 71pts each for the rest of the season (38pts after Monaco).

10-7 h2h for Alonso in races. 10-7 or 9-6 for Hamilton in qualifying. But Alonso "lost" the "meeting expectations championship". It's like watching a football final where the team that has the better of play, but still has to end up winning on penalties.

I think it was to Hamilton's advantage that it was at Mclaren, and that it was Alonso having to adjust to a new team. Had Alonso stayed at Renault and Hamilton joined him there, then I personally think Alonso would've clearly beaten him. But on a scale of Alonso - Fisichella, Hamilton would've been closer to Alonso than Fisichella.

[2 litre Touring Car Star]

Originally Posted by thetool

Honestly he still has a lot to prove. 3 world champion team-mates yes, and technically he did finish ahead of Alonso in 2007, but only on tie-break. When you consider he was clearly the team's favoured driver, it looks less clear cut.

He doesn't have anything to prove. But the weird thing about accumulated success in car racing, is that it can actually diminish the driver. It's hard to explain.

Originally Posted by thetool

Jenson Button, solid but not spectacular. His only world title came mostly down to being in the right place at the right time with the Brawn GP car design.

Well, that then makes up for being at the wrong place other times. Winning a championship isn't the be all, end all. IN Button's case, his season in 2011 validates him more than the WC does. Similar with Damon Hill, where races like Suzuka 94, Hungary 97 and Belgium 98 validate him more than the WC does.

Originally Posted by thetool

And the only reason Nico Rosberg got anywhere near a world title is the shocking reliability that Hamilton suffered that year.

Well you and I may be in for an exchange of posts, because you are blatantly wrong in this case.

Originally Posted by thetool

Top drivers don't have really great team-mates. Schumacher didn't, Senna didn't (usually). It just doesn't make sense from a teams point of view.

That's usually the teams directive.

Originally Posted by thetool

I'd say the best driver pairings we've seen in recent years are probably Alonso-Hamilton McLaren 2007

It's interesting to recall Pedro de la Rosa's Beyond The Grid interview, where he says this pairing is the best in F1 history.

[ascarracinguk]

agree about Rosberg amongst other things. he ABSOLUTELY deserved his world championship. sure Hamilton suffered poor reliability, but thats nothing unusual, others have the same. Rosberg put together a great season, it also showed how much it took out of him to win, retiring straight after. By his own admission he had to put his entire life on hold to do it, something he couldnt have done again.

Ive actually grown to admire rosberg more and more since his retirement and realise how underappreciated he was.

[Casper]

I am not sure Verstappen will win a WDC at at all, he has the talent but I can see it is possible that the younger drivers coming through may move the goal posts so to speak and MB's long domination has certainly prevented him from being a WDC already. In ordinary circumstances he could just have been a WDC already but MB have effectively blocked his way so far.

If MB continue their winning ways which is more likely than not how many years do you think Verstappen has to wait his chance? He has just about gauranteed that a move to MB is out of the question because his contract is out of phase with everyone else's. RB do not look like they are going to return to the podium within the next decade and all in all I would not put a bet on his WDC chances at all. Time will tell of course but brilliant drivers before him have not won either.

Originally Posted by steve_r

Jordan talks as if Hamilton has something to prove. Verstappen is the one with something to prove. And yet he keeps signing long term contracts with Red Bull, instead of trying to get a seat in the best car on the grid. But that is another matter altogether. Eventually I'm sure he will win the WDC - and maybe several - whether that is with RBR or some other team. But while he is the hottest or 2nd hottest property in F1, perhaps his management should be trying to get him into a car that will deliver a WDC.

[gert]

Originally Posted by Casper

I am not sure Verstappen will win a WDC at at all, he has the talent but I can see it is possible that the younger drivers coming through may move the goal posts so to speak and MB's long domination has certainly prevented him from being a WDC already. In ordinary circumstances he could just have been a WDC already but MB have effectively blocked his way so far.
...

Time will tell of course but brilliant drivers before him have not won either.

This, exactly.

Max is surely talented and determined enough, that is not the problem.

He may end up as a multi-time champion but he may as well end his carreer without a title at all.
Nobody can tell.

Eveything has to be in order at exactly the right, there is too many circumstances out of his control.

Same is true of course for Leclerc (and other upcoming talents).

Just imagine Ferrari gets its acts together in the next few years. We may see a Ferrari-Leclerc dominance.
Or if Mercedes keeps doing what it is doing, then maybe Lewis' eventual successor (Russell? or someone else) will pick up where Lewis left.

[S griffin]

Stranger things have happened, but I would be very surprised if Hamilton joined RBR. It's a nice idea, but let's not forget Red Bull seem to only be interested in drivers from their own programme. They already said Vettel was a no go. Why should Hamilton be any different?

[ascarracinguk]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Stranger things have happened, but I would be very surprised if Hamilton joined RBR. It's a nice idea, but let's not forget Red Bull seem to only be interested in drivers from their own programme. They already said Vettel was a no go. Why should Hamilton be any different?

i actually think there is a stronger chance Max will be trying to get into the Merc.

There is literally ZERO reason for Lewis to join RBR, and ZERO reason for RBR to want to upset the apple cart with Max

i would be highly surprised if Max's management weren't sniffing around Merc if there is a chance Bottas/ Hamilton were leaving the team

[2 litre Touring Car Star]

While Verstappen is there joining RB would most likely expose the weaknesses of Hamilton.

[Aysedasi]

Total non-story. Just like the one about Hamilton joining Ferrari.....

[Peter Mallett]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

Total non-story. Just like the one about Hamilton joining Ferrari.....

Ah but then again....... Webber to Renault.

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Ah but then again....... Webber to Renault.

That is such old news. It’s Webber to Alpine.

[peebee2]

LOL, if Red Bull thought they could get Hamilton they certainly would. Think of the PR - which is why they are in the sport to start with.

Though, if that unlikely event came to pass, Merc would move heaven and earth to sign Max anyway.

[V8 Fireworks]

Originally Posted by peebee2

LOL, if Red Bull thought they could get Hamilton they certainly would.

Alonso was available for 2021 and previously for 2020, but Red Bull weren't interested...

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by V8 Fireworks

Alonso was available for 2021 and previously for 2020, but Red Bull weren't interested...

Because they have built the team around Max!

Any other driver in there is treated as no.2 even if it may not be specifically in the contract.

Current RB driver mantra is little different to how Benetton was in Schu era, Ferrari in Schu era and Alonso Enstone era (both!)

[Knowlesy]

Originally Posted by V8 Fireworks

Alonso was available for 2021 and previously for 2020, but Red Bull weren't interested...

I can imagine Honda are gagging to work with the great Spaniard again.

[ascarracinguk]

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

I can imagine Honda are gagging to work with the great Spaniard again.

they wouldnt even let him in an indycar team with a honda engine so....

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by ascarracinguk

they wouldnt even let him in an indycar team with a honda engine so....

Haha tis true..

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by ascarracinguk

they wouldnt even let him in an indycar team with a honda engine so....

"We don't want him because when our engines blow up he's very mean about them. Fernando is a mean man"

[V8 Fireworks]

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

I can imagine Honda are gagging to work with the great Spaniard again.

Alonso too, can one day be a Honda "company man" again just like Mr. Button, Sato-san, Mr. Zanardi, Mr. Senna etc... no grudges.

[2 litre Touring Car Star]

Hold on with your agreement. There's another post on the other tab quoting you! lol