Lewis Hamilton lauds Max Verstappen for 'phenomenal' campaign with Red Bull driver on cusp of Formula 1 title hat-trick

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has praised Max Verstappen for a “phenomenal” 2023 season.

The Red Bull driver has two successive world titles to his name and could make it a hat-trick at this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix, with victory possible as early as the Saturday Sprint Race.

Verstappen and Hamilton went toe-to-toe in the 2021 campaign with the Dutchman coming out on top in a controversial finale in Abu Dhabi.

However, Red Bull have gone from strength to strength since then, while Mercedes continue to struggle with Hamilton and his team-mate, George Russell.

Asked to give his opinion of Verstappen, he said: "I wouldn't rank him. I think ranking people is an opinion-based thing.

"I think he's earned his position, he's done an amazing job with the package that he has.

"Him and the team have been phenomenal this year, faultless, and I think they've raised the bar.

"As a team, we have to look at that and say, 'okay, these are the areas that we need to develop to be able to match that and compete'.

"I do hope at some stage we can fight them and actually have them in a defending position, but they should definitely enjoy the moment because they've worked for it."

Another world champion, Fernando Alonso, was also full of praise.

"Big congratulations on any incredible season breaking so many records," the Aston Martin driver said.

"When you win so many races - and they were not easy races, sometimes they were tricky with weather conditions, we went through June-July all the races were hit by rain on Saturdays or Sundays and it was sometimes tricky - and when you make no mistakes and deliver the job every Sunday, it's big respect."

However, he said Verstappen has more to do to earn any comparison with Michael Schumacher.

He added: "Maybe, yeah. We have to wait and see. I think the next few years will be even better for Max, to be honest. He will keep adding championships so we will compare to Michael even closer in the future."

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