Ex-Formula 1 team owner Eddie Jordan believes that Lewis Hamilton is now “too old” to beat Max Verstappen on equal terms.
Hamilton and Verstappen went toe-to-toe for the 2021 Drivers’ title throughout a pulsating year, with the Dutchman eventually prevailing after a contentious final race in Abu Dhabi.
However, Mercedes’ persistent trouble in getting on top of the current technical regulations has seen Hamilton fail to win a single race since December 2021.
Meanwhile, Red Bull has aced the latest rules set to remain unbeaten across the first half of 2023, enabling Verstappen to open up a 125-point championship lead.
Amid Sergio Perez’s struggles in the sister Red Bull and Hamilton’s contractual situation at Mercedes, Jordan and fellow pundit David Coulthard discussed the possibility of the Brit going up against Verstappen in the same team on the Formula for Success podcast.
When asked by Coulthard whether Hamilton was “too old to go head-to-head with Max”, Jordan responded: “Yes. I think he will still win grands prix but he will need certain things to fall in place with him.
“Max is at the sweet spot for age, experience, belief, knowledge, the people he’s been around with the team and I think in the same car, right at this moment as we speak with the same ages it has to be Max.”
Although Coulthard was less convincing in his assessment that Verstappen, 25, would have the edge over 38-year-old Hamilton, the 13-time F1 winner sided with Jordan’s claim.
“I still reckon Lewis has got it,” Coulthard added. “If they were in the same team there would be some contact. It would be Prost-Senna.”
“Look, I’ve got to say that Max has got to have the edge,” he continued when pressed for an answer. “Lewis would appear to be a busy boy off the track with all of his passions.
“And as we know, Max when he is off track is very much focused on his simulator, e-gaming team and he’s all totally immersed with anything to do with driving.”
While Hamilton is still awaiting a first win in this regulation cycle, the seven-time World Champion did pip Verstappen to pole position in Hungary by just 0.003s.
However, the Mercedes driver was beaten to the first corner by the Red Bull come Sunday, with Verstappen proceeding to record yet another comprehensive victory.
The reigning World Champion’s second trip to the top step of the podium rostrum at the Hungaroring marked Red Bull’s 12th consecutive victory, surpassing McLaren’s previous all-time F1 record.
That streak has since extended to 13 after Verstappen triumphed again a week later in Belgium, bringing him to within one race win of equalling Sebastian Vettel’s benchmark tally of nine successive wins by a driver.
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