A Clash of the Titans: Verstappen vs Hamilton

Prior to the first Grand Prix of the season, it appeared that, for the first time in a number of years, competition was returning to Formula 1. Mercedes, and Lewis Hamilton in particular, have dominated for seven years, with their car far superior to any competitors. This year, however, it appeared that the tectonic plates of Formula 1 were shifting slightly, as Red Bull’s new and improved car looked set to compete.

And this theory was bourn out by the first race of the season, where the expected frantic battle between Max Verstappen’s Red Bull and Hamilton’s Mercedes took place. Both drivers had the lead at different points in the race, and it was only with a controversial penalty handed out to Verstappen that Hamilton once again triumphed.

As Reece Goodall stated in his review of the race, Mercedes, for the first time in a number of years, did actually have to race once again, and it seems likely that the conflict between these two drivers and well-matched cars could lead to one of the most-tense and tightly fought championship competitions in years.

So this is the challenge we set to two Boar Sport writers (editor and proud Dutchman Sam Matthews Boehmer, and avid Hamilton fan Shay Solanki): who has what it takes to triumph in what could finally be another F1 battle of the ages?

Why Verstappen will win:

Sam Matthews Boehmer

Max Verstappen has always been unique when it comes to F1, constantly breaking records and proving a racing ability at a young age that matched, if not surpassed, some of his far older peers.

In 2014 he became the youngest ever driver in F1 by competing for Toro Rosso at the age of 17, when he couldn’t legally drive a car on the roads in his native Netherlands, while in 2016, having been elevated to the primary Red Bull car, he won his first race in Spain.

His prowess here, especially in preserving his tyres and holding off the vastly experienced Kimi Raikonnen underlined one fact that is undoubted about Verstappen: on his day, he is quite some driver, and possibly one of the best the F1 circuit has ever seen.

The unfortunate fact about Verstappen’s early years in F1, however, was the fact that these days came around far too infrequently. One of the unfortunate downsides of Verstappen’s young age was his inexperience, as his aggressive driving led to constant criticisms from his fellow drivers, and even from F1 director Charlie Whiting.

But with nearly seven years of F1 experience behind him, Verstappen has honed and nurtured his driving prowess to cut out his mistakes and adapt his aggressiveness towards making himself an extraordinarily efficient driver. Despite having a far inferior car, he has consistently picked up wins every season since that victory in 2016, and is ready to go one step further this year.

Perhaps the most telling skill for Verstappen this year will be his ability on the overtake, as he is able to make the right move at exactly the right time, an ability unmatched by his fellow drivers on the grid. He used to be slightly impatient when sat behind a rival, but with experience this has been tempered.

He is also extremely intelligent when it comes to the race dynamics of driving, consistently giving feedback to Honda, allowing them to perfect their engine to the extent that they have now produced what is perhaps the best engine on the grid.

However, you could ask why this means that Verstappen will beat Hamilton, who has many of these qualities and is the more experienced driver. Their cars are largely well matched, with Red Bull perhaps having the slight edge, but surely Hamilton will have the deciding know how?

But Verstappen is hardly lacking for experience himself, despite his tender age. If Red Bull’s car is slightly superior, he will exploit any slight advantage to the maximum. He should have won the Bahrain Grand Prix, there is no doubt about that, and would have done had it not been for race control’s slightly dodgy inconsistent decision-making.

He is in many ways the typical Dutchman, with enough self-confidence, and perhaps over-self-confidence, to mean that he will not be fazed should the battle with Hamilton be on a knife edge come the end of the season. Hamilton has not had proper competition for years, and when that competition did arrive in the form of Nico Rosberg, it was Hamilton who lost out.

It will be Hamilton, not Verstappen who is unprepared for this immense battle that will inevitably ensue, and I personally am looking forward to the crowning of Verstappen as the youngest Championship winner of all time.

Why Hamilton will win:

Shay Solanki

Having been in the sport for 13 years, Sir Lewis Hamilton has amassed 7 world titles alongside constantly breaking and setting many records. Despite the apparent troubles of the Mercedes car this year, the mere suggestion that any other driver on the grid has both the experience and talent to surpass Hamilton is rather naive. 

Already demonstrated by the first race of the 2021 season, Hamilton makes the difference when it most matters. Despite arguably not having the best car on track that race, he persevered and overcame the challenge to take home his first ‘first race win’ in years. This very race embodied the many talents of Hamilton, as he was able to push through the inferiority of the car to take the win.

From Silverstone in 2008 to set the scene, it was clear a young Lewis Hamilton was something special: in only his second year of Formula 1 he had produced one of his best drives. So early in his career, he managed to win by 68 seconds in addition to lapping all the drivers apart from the top 3.

This feat was not just impressive, but tremendous considering the wet conditions. With all things considered, Lewis Hamilton proved in his early days that natural talent and inevitably, experience would bring him several titles and achievements.

As recently as the 2020 Turkish Grand Prix you can find another instance of the greatness of Lewis Hamilton; dominating the race to only be challenged at the last minute. A busted tyre would have caused most drivers, including his many teammates across the years, to lose all composure and inevitably the race. Yet in the case of Hamilton, he won again in such troubling circumstances, despite the looming threat of Verstappen right behind. Correct me if I am wrong could anyone name another driver capable of winning a race on three tyres?

While Verstappen and Red Bull are certainly a point of conversation, I have no doubt that Lewis Hamilton will take another championship this season.

The talent and experience of this man talks both on and off track. Perhaps in a few years, long after the retirement of Hamilton, Verstappen will have the experience to dominate a championship to such an extent as the 7-time reigning champion.

And there you go: this is set to be one of the tensest sporting battles in years.

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