Sebastian Vettel has offered insight into how Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen have “matured” as their Formula 1 careers have progressed.
Vettel, who raced alongside the pair for several seasons until his retirement in 2023, explained how experience refines not just a driver’s racecraft, but also significantly impacts their emotional intelligence and decision-making under pressure.
When speaking to F1’s official podcast, Vettel was asked about Oscar Piastri’s 2025 season. In just the Australian’s third season in the sport, he was locked in a thrilling championship battle with team-mate Lando Norris.
When discussing the young driver, Vettel emphasised that Piastri has “a very mature head on his shoulders,” further adding that he has “a lot of racing intelligence,” which could set Piastri up for success as his years progress.
This discussion prompted Vettel to reflect on how the elite drivers evolve throughout their careers. Namely, he drew clear parallels to Hamilton and Verstappen’s development in recent seasons.
Vettel pointed to Hamilton’s handling of his controversial title defeat to Max Verstappen at the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as a defining moment of personal growth.
“You look at, which for me is one of the most incredible moments of emotional intelligence and composure, Lewis in 2021,” Vettel emphasised.
“I cannot imagine to be in that position, and I’ve been in many positions when it comes to racing.
But to act the way he did, that alone, or that together with everything else he has achieved, says so much about his strength and his character.”
Early fearlessness contrasts later maturity
Vettel went on to highlight how Hamilton’s response to the loss emphasised a clear growth for the Briton. Emphasising how his experience and years in the sport have helped shape the driver he has become, one vastly different to the young rookie who shook up the F1 scene in 2007.
“So if you take that Lewis, and the 2007 Lewis, they’re two different drivers,” Vettel explained.
“Take the 2007 first corner [overtake on Fernando Alonso] in Australia. Unbelievable. That’s the kind of stuff you do when you are young and innocent.”
Vettel believes the risks that Hamilton took haven’t gone away, per se. Rather, he believes greater experience comes with greater risk awareness, and ultimately changes the way drivers evaluate certain situations.
“You can still do it later, but now I think the chances are different that he would take that gamble,” Vettel explained.
“Because all you see at that age is the opportunity. Now, with the experience, or later with the experience, you’ve been through so many turn ones, and you’ve seen so much, that you also understand that the race is much longer than turn one.
The former Red Bull driver stressed that this awareness becomes integral when competing for a championship. Hence both Verstappen and Hamilton’s growing maturity.
“Especially when, take into context, you’re in a very good car. You start in the first three and you have very strong pace.
Losing a place here and there, you will be able to come back, and you know that after you’ve had a handful and then more grands prix. You don’t know that in the beginning.”
Vettel on Verstappen’s development
Shifting his focus from Lewis Hamilton to fellow four-time Drivers’ Champion, Max Verstappen, Vettel highlighted a similar career progression for the Dutchman. Similar to Hamilton, Verstappen’s early F1 days consisted of certain risks at various races.
“You look at Max in his moves when he was young – or when he was in his first one, two, three, four years – and you look at his behaviour now, he’s much more mature and holding back,” said Vettel.
Verstappen may not shy away from a risky overtake or move even several years after his debut. However, Vettel believes the Dutchman’s selectivity sets him a part from his early years.
“He still goes for the impossible gaps and makes them possible, which is great and his skill, but he doesn’t go for all the gaps, because he knows they’re not important right now.”
Vettel believes that Verstappen’s increased judgement makes him more of a threat to his rivals.
“If he needs to get a move on and overtake, he’s probably one of the best, going through the field quickly, to make a strategy, a race, recover or work,” Vettel added.
“But if he knows, ‘I’ve got time, and it doesn’t actually matter’, he’s not panicking anymore.”
READ MORE – Max Verstappen offered Ayrton Senna comparison amid ‘sad’ parting with Honda
Discussion about this post