F1: Verstappen on pace to destroy Hamilton’s F1 records (Update)

Former F1 driver Felipe Massa has made a bold prediction about tow-time champion Max Verstappen.

The Brazilian driver has argued that the Red Bull driver is on his way to breaking the record currently held by Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton of the number of championship titles, with seven each.

During an interview with La Gazzetta Dello Sport, Massa explained:

“Max Verstappen has been proving for some time that he is a phenomenon.

“What he does, in terms of victories and performances, is comparable to the best moments we have seen from Senna, Schumacher or Hamilton.

“He is at the same level, plus he is very young and has many racing years ahead of him, so he can break all the records and overtake Michael and Lewis, if he is willing to stay in Formula 1 for a long time.”

“If we talk about quality, apart from the perfection of his driving, the coolness Verstappen manages to keep at the most important moments is impressive.

“He is always sharp, knows how to make the right decisions and can work with the team like few others.

“Then there is another winning trait of Verstappen. Max is only focused on racing, with no other distractions, and that helps him to always be at his best. If he could, he would drive 24 hours a day, in the simulator or on the track.”

At age 25 Max Verstappen is already 24 wins ahead of Lewis Hamilton at that same age.

Verstappen does not turn 26 until September 30th. By that time, he is projected to have about 45 F1 wins to Hamilton’s 17.

If Verstappen quits the sport after his contract expires in 2028 to do something else, he likely won’t bet Hamilton’s 103 total wins. However, if he renews, Hamilton’s record is definitely in jeopardy.

Hamilton won many races in his 30s.  Verstappen may retire by then.

How Verstappen Compares to Lewis Hamilton