Nelson Piquet takes position in the announced duel.
As the Bahrain Grand Prix opened the season with a breathtaking mano a mano between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, the title battle looks set to be played out between the two men.
More than ever, the seven-time Formula 1 world champion can fear the Dutch driver, at the top of his game in a Red Bull cut for the win.
But in Sakhir, again and again, it was Hamilton who won.
Piquet, however, sees the Batavian as a better pilot than Sir Lewis.
“If Max was driving for Mercedes, I'm sure he would run over Hamilton,” the Brazilian told
motorsport.com
.
Max is more aggressive.
He might make mistakes more frequently due to his aggressiveness, but in my opinion he's better than Hamilton.
It's too easy for Hamilton to win it all with [Valtteri] Bottas by his side as a second driver. "
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A biased comment, knowing that his daughter Kelly is none other than the companion of Max Verstappen?
As an informed spectator, the three-time world champion (in 1981, 1983 and 1987) rather underlines the advantage of the native of Stevenage to pilot the Mercedes W12, even if it seemed less dominant than its predecessors during the first tests of the season.
He compares it with his 1987 Williams, with which he beat all his competitors, starting with his partner Nigel Mansell: “It was so easy.
The car was much better than the others.
And Mercedes was much better than the others in recent years. ”
Hamilton untouchable at Mercedes
According to the decidedly clear opinion of Piquet Sr, the record holder of Grand Prix victories (96) ultimately benefits from the lack of adversity within his own team.
In addition to Valtteri Bottas, who has never managed to overshadow Hamilton since his arrival at Mercedes in 2017, the Brazilian has in the process scratched the predecessor of the Finn, yet world champion in 2016. “It is not that Hamilton is not good, continues Piquet.
But he has a lower rider by his side and the previous one (Nico Rosberg) was even worse.
He won because Hamilton had crashes and retirements that year. ”
The Grand Prix of Emilia-Romagna on April 18 will bring a new element of response.
Victim of a puncture at Imola last year, Max Verstappen will try to figure it out better.
One thing is certain, Nelson Piquet will ride for him.
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