Lewis Hamilton written off by Karun Chandhok in Max Verstappen ‘greatness’ claim

Karun Chandhok has suggested that Lewis Hamilton’s days at the top of Formula One are numbered while singing the praises of Max Verstappen ahead of this weekend’s British Grand Prix. The Dutchman’s latest victory in Austria marked his fifth straight win and saw him extend his advantage at the top of the Drivers’ Championship standings to a healthy margin of 81 points, with his third title already as good as wrapped up.

Hamilton, meanwhile, has failed to claim a single Grand Prix victory for over 18 months and looks set to lag behind Verstappen for as long as Mercedes remain adrift of Red Bull in terms of outright performance. Chandhok believes that Verstappen is simply in a league of his own as things stand, with his supremacy giving Hamilton and his fellow competitors no chance of competing with him on a regular basis.

“I just think he’s operating at such a high level,” Chandhok told Sky Sports F1. “I just think he’s a driver now who’s in such a zone, and the car is in such a good position for him as well, that he’s just got the confidence that he knows he’s not going to go off track, he knows he’s not going to lose the win, he knows he’s not going to get a penalty. It’s commendable, right?”

Chandhok went on to suggests that Hamilton’s era as a leading F1 driver is done and dusted, with Verstappen having been the sport’s poster boy over the last few campaigns since winning his maiden title under highly controversial circumstances in Abu Dhabi two years ago.

“You know, it’s the same like when we watch that Lewis era a decade ago, or nearly a decade ago, or when you watch the Michael era two decades ago, we are watching greatness unfold,” added Chandhok. “And it’s remarkable to see the little details that they achieve.”

It remains to be seen if Hamilton will ever be able to restore his former glories by winning a record-breaking eighth title before he eventually decides to call time on his F1 career. He is widely expected to sign a new deal with Mercedes at some point in the near future, which suggests that he still believes he can fight for Grand Prix victories alongside Verstappen if the Silver Arrows manage to get their act together.

Mercedes chief Toto Wolff recently insisted that Hamilton should be owed the chance to earn his eighth Drivers’ Championship triumph after what happened to him in Abu Dhabi back in 2021, with the Austrian telling Sky Sports: “Lewis Hamilton is clearly the most important personality in our sport, he is so multi-dimensional.

“It is not only the racing driver and world champion but he is also trailblazing for diversity and sustainability. There are no limits for Lewis Hamilton as an entrepreneur as a politician. I think he is one of the most spectacular personalities and characters I’ve ever met. We owe him an eighth championship.”

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