Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen are two of the greatest F1 drivers of all time, however the question over who is better has been heavily debated.
Hamilton and Verstappen went toe to toe during an incredible 2021 season with numerous controversial moments throughout, making it one of the most entertaining years in the sports history.
After colliding with each other at Silverstone, Monza and Jeddah, the pair headed into the last race of the season level on points. Verstappen controversially won out after FIA race director Michael Masi failed to correctly apply the rules while the safety car was deployed, after letting a portion of lapped cars pass, allowing the Red Bull driver who was on fresher soft tyres to overtake the seven- time champion on the final lap.
In 2022 however, Red Bull had a much stronger car than Mercedes, with the Dutchman claiming a second world title in a far more dominant fashion, beating nearest rival Charles Leclerc by 146 points and winning 15 out of the 22 races.
It didn’t, however, stop them from colliding at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with EverythingF1, Mark Blundell gave his verdict when asked who he thinks would win in equal machinery: “As we are today, out and out one lap it would be Max.”
The former McLaren driver added: “If you said to me, I had to pick two drivers, having a collective of experience and speed and understanding of how to go through the season and get the job done, then I’d have to have Max in one of them.
“But then it’d be hard pressed between Hamilton and Alonso.
“That would be my fantasy league picks. Out and out lap I’d still put Max on there but collectively for a season and who do I want to get the job done over the course of that season, then the other two will be for that other car alongside.”
Three of the best
Alonso and Hamilton also went toe to toe during a tumultuous season for McLaren in 2007, with the pair both losing out on the championship by one point to Kimi Raikkonen, albeit the Brit beating the Spaniard on countback in his rookie year.
Alonso ended up leaving the team and going back to Renault for 2008 after tensions during 2007 reached boiling point, as numerous controversies such as Spy gate soured the relationship between himself and then McLaren head Ron Dennis.
The Spaniard, now 41, is an Aston Martin driver for 2023 and going into his 21st season in F1 and is showing no signs of age slowing him up.
Hamilton remains the most successful driver in the sports history, having equalled Michael Schumacher’s record of seven titles in 2020, but the Mercedes driver has won 103 Grand Prix compared to the Germans 91.
Verstappen is contracted to Red Bull until 2028 and given his and the teams form, you wouldn’t bet against him to win more world titles in the future.