Lewis Hamilton has indicated that he doesn’t think Thai driver Alex Albon is as quick as Valtteri Bottas or Dutch ace Max Verstappen.
Speaking after leading home a Mercedes one-two at the Belgian Grand Prix, Hamilton said that the Red Bull RB16 is a “very good car” but Verstappen doesn’t have a rear-gunner to support him in the races.
READ: Should Red Bull Replace Albon With Vettel?
“What you have got to look at with the Red Bulls is that they do have a very good car,” the six-time World Champion told Sky Sports F1.
“People downplay it but they have got a very strong car and Max is doing a great job with it.
“Unfortunately both drivers aren’t there like me and Valtteri [Bottas] are there.
“That makes it harder for them. I’ve experienced that myself many years ago when I was at McLaren and I was the driver always at the front.”
Continuing, he said, “I didn’t have the team-mate backing up so you equally don’t get the constructors’ points but then you also can’t play strategy on the cars you are racing again.
“So Red Bull have that and Max [Verstappen] is sort of there on his own.”
Hamilton went on to say that he wants to have more battles with other teams in Formula 1, but added it’s not his responsibility to make F1 more competitive.
“Of course I really, really want to have more of a fight, but that’s not on me and I’ve just got to keep on what I’m doing.”
After the race, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said they have “no intention” of replacing Albon with Pierre Gasly – who had a strong Belgian GP in the sister car – this season.
Albon finished the race in sixth position after losing a place to Esteban Ocon in the Renault on the last lap.
Meanwhile, Verstappen scored his sixth consecutive podium of 2020 and remains second in the Drivers’ Standings.
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