Lewis Hamilton Vs Max Verstappen

Lewis Hamilton Vs Max Verstappen

Welcome to WatchMojo, and in this installment of versus we’re comparing modern Formula One rivals Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.

We’ll examine everything from their popularity and influence to their skill and results on track to determine which racer comes out on top.

Round #1: Rookie Seasons

After a successful run in Karting and Formula Three, Lewis Hamilton went on to win the GP2 championship title his rookie season. When Mclaren took a surprising risk by filling their open seat with the gifted rookie, Hamilton immediately put any doubts to rest. After finishing third in his very first F1 race, he went on to earn nine podiums in a row, the most of any rookie in Formula One history. While the team and car certainly factor into his success, he was regularly beating his more-experienced teammate Fernando Alonso. After setting a record for the most points in a debut season, he only lost the championship by a single point to Kimi Raikkonen.

Max Verstappen made a splash when he raced an F1 car before he could legally get a driver's license. At age 17, he became the youngest driver to ever race in Formula One. In his first season with Toro Rosso, the driver was awarded Rookie of the Year at the Autosports Awards. Even when his car’s reliability issues hampered his success, Max quickly earned a reputation for his aggressive racing style. A more fair rookie comparison might be his debut season with Red Bull. In his first race with the team, he became the youngest driver to earn an F1 victory, and he would go on to earn four podium finishes in his first eight races.

Yet even when accounting for differences in teams and taking their sophomore seasons into consideration, Hamilton still comes out on top. Verstappen’s mature success at such a young age caught the world’s attention, but Hamilton’s dominance under pressure in his first few seasons is unmatched.

WINNER: Hamilton - Hamilton 1 / Verstappen 0

Round #2: Fan Following and Support

Over the past few seasons, the rise of internet fan culture and a dramatized Netflix show have led to increasingly tribalistic fan followings.

On social media, Hamilton is the most-followed driver by a long shot, with over 30 million followers on Instagram alone. Yet according to a recent Formula One survey, while he’s unsurprisingly the top driver in Britain and among fans over 45, he’s also the most polarizing. Although Hamilton fans will be quick to condemn Verstappen’s tendency to create drama with his elbows-out driving style, Hamilton has also caused his fair share of controversy over the years, for everything from wearing a nose stud to coming a few penalty points away from a ban in 2020.

In 2021, Formula One and Motorsport Network surveyed more than 160,000 Formula One fans around the world. The results ranked Verstappen as the most popular driver, as opposed to Hamilton’s third place spot. Considering he’s won Dutch Sportsman of the year three times, it isn’t surprising that he was popular in his home country, but he was also the most popular driver with 25-34 year olds internationally. Verstappen has never been focused on charming the public or making friends. His tenacity and talent on track has managed to sway support in his favor.

In a monumental changing of the guard, Max Verstappen is taking the stage as F1’s next big thing, capturing a brand new audience with his bold racing and unrivaled talent.

WINNER: Verstappen - Hamilton 1 / Verstappen 1

Round #3: On Track Battles & Wins

The rivalry is made real on track, making the media circus in turn a distant mirage.

Rewinding back to Japan in 2017, Hamilton, a three-time world champion at the time, found himself fighting to hold off a blazing dutch teenager with fresher tires. But Max wouldn’t stay in his mirrors for long. Lewis continued his dominance over the next few years, even breaking the record for most F1 wins of all time. But entering into the 2021 season, Max had become a fierce competitor. Connected at the hip, Verstappen and Hamilton stood on the top two steps of the podium in many races, but not without controversy. At Silverstone, their collision sent Max into a scary high speed impact, which saw Lewis receive a penalty. Later in Monza, the two tangled again and both drivers had to retire, with Max being penalized this time around.

Never one to be timid with his seniors, Verstappen earned his second career victory in 2017 by overtaking Hamilton. In Brazil in 2019, he fought past the Brit twice in his drive to victory. The 2021 season was chock-full of show-stoppers: like Max’s dive to the lead in Spain or when he forced Lewis to escape over the curb in Emilia Romagna. While his on-track aggression also earned him a few penalties, his talent was obvious even when strategy wasn’t on his side. Overall, Hamilton holds the record for most race wins. However, if you compare the rivals’ by their time in the sport, Max actually has two more victories than Lewis did by his eighth season.

At the end of the day, it’s every gutsy overtake and near collision between lights out and checkered flag that truly matter. While Hamilton may hold records, it’s Verstappen who delivers those bold, nail-biting on-track maneuvers that you won’t soon forget.

WINNER: Verstappen - Hamilton 1 / Verstappen 2

Round #4: Influence

Beyond his athletic prowess, Hamilton is dedicated to transforming the sport for the next generation. As the only Black F1 driver, Lewis is tackling the lack of diversity in motorsport with the “Hamilton Commission.” The commission’s research led to his charity “Mission 44,” which focuses on creating opportunities for underserved and underrepresented students. But his advocacy doesn’t end with racing, like when he bought a table at the Met Gala to showcase emerging Black designers. As a vegan and environmental activist, he uses his platform to fight against climate change. He’s even considered a driving force in F1’s goal of becoming carbon neutral. He was knighted in 2021, and between his investments, celebrity status, and even his clothing line, Sir Lewis Hamilton is a game-changer.

Not only is Verstappen credited with rekindling a Dutch passion for motorsport, but he’s also aided in attracting a brand new generation of fans to the sport. Like many of the younger drivers, he’s gotten involved with the virtual sporting world, and he even has his own sim racing team. After entering his first F1 race at 17, Max earned a slew of “Youngest Driver to” awards. This led to the “Verstappen Rule,” which raised the sport’s age limit to 18 and ensured the Dutch driver would hold onto those titles for the foreseeable future. Outside of racing, Max has also been known to partner with brands and works with charities such as “Wings for Life,” an organization dedicated to curing spinal cord injuries.

Verstappen might represent a new generation of Formula One, but Hamilton is paving the way for a more inclusive and sustainable future for the sport. By changing the worlds’ perception of what a driver can be, Lewis is actively using his influence to create lasting, philanthropic change worldwide.

WINNER: Hamilton - Hamilton 2 / Verstappen 2

Round #5: Championships

With seven championship victories under his belt, Lewis Hamilton is often considered the GOAT, or Greatest Of All Time. While that title can be subjective, his success speaks for itself. As of the time of writing, he’s tied with Micheal Schumacher as a 7-time World Driver Champion, and he holds the record for most podiums, pole positions, and career wins. Even with Verstappen’s impressive dominance at a young age, Hamilton is still the youngest championship leader of the two. It’s impossible to fairly draw a direct comparison between the rivals due to their varied levels of experience, but by age 24, both drivers had earned a single series title.

Verstappen may not have statistics like Hamilton, but he has beat the racing legend to win the last two World Championships. Even when Mercedes was dominating the field from 2017-2020, Verstappen has never been far behind, climbing from sixth to fourth to third place in the championship standings. And while team dominance may have held him back before, the 2022 season saw Verstappen enter a dominant class of his own. After earning the record for most wins and points in a single season, it certainly seems like his 2022 world title won’t be his last.

Max Verstappen’s Formula One career has been truly sensational. From a record-breaking teenager to a repeat world champ, the Dutch driver has proven his chops as a mature and fearless competitor time and time again. There’s no denying he’s on his way to legendary status, but it’s a status Lewis Hamilton has already earned. From building his rookie success into a formidable racing legacy to using his status to advocate for social change, he’s an undeniable Formula One great. When it comes to their rivalry, we can only hope the two will continue to prove themselves in many more battles to come.

WINNER: Hamilton - Hamilton 3 / Verstappen 2