Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko believes Max Verstappen remains faster than Lewis Hamilton, even when driving a lesser car.
The statement comes as the Briton completed his first test with Ferrari, marking the start of a new chapter in his career.
Lewis Hamilton's move from Mercedes to Ferrari could reignite his rivalry with Max Verstappen for the world title. However, Helmut Marko remains convinced of the superiority of the four-time reigning champion. “Max is not only the fastest, but also the best in Formula 1 in terms of overall package”, he told Motorsport-Total.
According to him, Verstappen manages to extract “0.1 to 0.2 seconds extra per lap” of his car, an ability that no other driver would possess. “Lewis Hamilton still has the speed, but over a full season? I doubt it”, added Marko.
Even if Ferrari offers Hamilton a high-performance single-seater and Red Bull produces a less competitive car, the Austrian leader is still betting on Verstappen.
Read also: Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari: The video of his test at Fiorano
-Finally, Marko sent some sharp advice to Hamilton, the Austrian advises the Briton to “be careful not to fall back into a negative spiral” as he did with Mercedes.
For his part, Lewis Hamilton is enjoying his first happy days at Maranello. The seven-time F1 World Champion discovered his new team this Monday and took part in a test session at the wheel of an old single-seater on the Fiorano track.
The British Champion was, despite the fog, able to take the temperature of his new fans, the Tifosi. The latter had gathered around the private Ferrari track to take the first photos of Lewis Hamilton in red.
Also read: Lewis Hamilton's first impressions after driving for Scuderia Ferrari
