Lewis Hamilton has claimed that he’d be competing with Max Verstappen currently, if he had Sergio Perez’s car.
The reigning World Champion has obliterated the competition since the new aerodynamic regulations were introduced, with him having won 25 of the last 34 races.
He’s simply unstoppable currently, to the extent that he’s on a winning streak of eight races.
In total, he’s already won 10 races in 2023, and there’s only been 12 events.
Want to work in Formula 1? Browse the latest F1 job vacancies
Should his fine form continue after the summer break, then it won’t be long until he seals a third consecutive Drivers’ Championship.
The next race also just so happens to be the Dutch Grand Prix, where he’ll be the obvious favourite for another victory at his home GP.
He already boasts an eye-watering advantage of 125 points over Perez, who Hamilton clearly thinks isn’t challenging Verstappen.
Hamilton appears to think that he can do a better job than Perez in his car and compete with the Dutchman.
The seven-time World Champion is desperate for a car just as quick as Red Bull’s, although it doesn’t look like he’ll have that at his disposal anytime soon.
“Do I want to be as fast as them? Of course. Would I like to have a car that’s as fast as them? Of course,” Hamilton told the media including Canal+.
“If I was in Sergio’s car… Max would not be having the same time he’s having now.”
Red Bull advisor Dr. Helmut Marko is still treating Hamilton as a threat, despite Red Bull’s superiority.
The 80-year-old admitted that Fernando Alonso and Hamilton are the only two drivers on the grid capable of beating the Dutchman, who he still thinks “wins easily no matter what”.
READ: Helmut Marko snubs Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes
“I would perhaps say [Fernando] Alonso or Hamilton,” Marko told DAZN. “But in the same car it would be very difficult.
“Second place behind Max is like a victory. He had a good qualy, a good Sprint race, and had a controlled race with good speed.
“Max Verstappen wins easily no matter what. The whole team, every stop works, no mistakes are made, the whole team is fast and they are doing an incredible job.”