‘I’ve raced against Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen – it’s clear who is stronger’

The F1 stars have been locked in a fierce rivalry for some time – but who is superior?

F1 Grand Prix of China - Sprint
Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton are two of F1’s biggest names (Image: Getty)

Lewis Hamilton vs Max Verstappen was a rivalry that had the Formula One world in a chokehold for some time, with the motorsport world split on who the superior driver was. It all came to a head in 2021 when Verstappen controversially pipped Hamilton to the Drivers’ Championship title on the final lap of the season.

Since then, Verstappen has won a further three world titles, taking himself three behind Hamilton, who boasts a joint-record seven. The Brit moved to Ferrari in 2025, but hasn’t been able to roll back the years and rediscover his world-beating form.

However, it’s another former Ferrari driver who has offered his verdict on the Hamilton vs Verstappen debate, voting in favour of the Dutchman. Kimi Raikkonen has shared the grid with the pair of them, but according to the Finnish driver, it’s Verstappen who comes out on top.

Raikkonen was asked in a recent interview who he believed the strongest driver on the grid was, with the 46-year-old responding: “Verstappen! I saw him arrive in Formula One during my second stint at Ferrari.

“Max is a phenomenon. He won his first race in Spain right in front of me, ten years ago. There I realised a star was born.”

Before adding: “We all know he is a good driver and he’s in a good team now… When it comes to youngest and oldest, it happens to be like that. I raced against his father. That actually sounds even more scary. In Formula One! That’s how it goes.”

F1 Grand Prix of France

Kimi Raikkonen has voted in favour of Max Verstappen as being the strongest driver on the grid (Image: Getty)

It’s unlikely to phase Hamilton and his seven World Championship titles, who recently pushed back at claims his Formula One career was coming to an end. Speaking earlier this month, he said: “Yep. I’m still in contract, so everything is 100 per cent clear to me. And yeah, I’m still focused, I’m still motivated, I still love what I do with all my heart, and I’m going to be here for quite some time, so get used to it.

“There’s a lot of people that are trying to retire me and that’s not even on my thoughts. I’m already thinking of what will be next, planning for the next five years. But yeah, still plan to be here for some time.”

Hamilton still has one-and-a-half years left on his Ferrari contract, with the Monaco Grand Prix up next. The 41-year-old is sitting fourth in the standings after a solid start to the 2026 season

CRE: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/2211292/max-verstappen-lewis-hamilton-kimi-raikkonen