Eddie Jordan picks winner if Hamilton and Verstappen had same car

Hamilton opens up on plans to remain in F1 ahead of 2023 season

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Max Verstappen would beat Lewis Hamilton if the two raced in equal cars, according to Eddie Jordan. Verstappen dominated last season with Red Bull looking likely to win a third Drivers’ Championship in a row due to their commanding position.

Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton’s problems worsen with Mercedes unable to produce a competitive car for the second successive season. However, the former team principal has backed the Dutchman to pip the Mercedes star even if the pair were in the same machine.

Jordan also feels Charles Leclerc and Fernando Alonso are not steep enough opposition to challenge the former 2021 title rivals. He said: “At the moment, I’d say that Max Verstappen would still win if Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc and Fernando Alonso were in equal machinery.

“Verstappen has a new inner belief of himself and will continue to improve. Formula One drivers need to understand that this partnership between Verstappen and Red Bull is going to be formidable over the years.

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“Verstappen is not stupid and will not look to join any other team, especially with his dad and management team behind him. Anyone hoping that Verstappen leaves Red Bull any time soon is dreaming. I’d then say Hamilton would come second place in an equal car, with Alonso and Leclerc battling for third.”

Hamilton appeared to challenge Verstappen’s authority as F1’s leading man last season as he claimed Mercedes W13 was holding him back. The seven-time champion tabled the idea of racing with identical cars to determine who was the best racer.

He explained: “I mean the car does limit us. I think for anyone that’s further back in the order they are limited by the machinery they have. If we all had the same car, no matter which one it was, you would see a better reflection of each driver, but that’s obviously not the case.

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“Every time we get in the car we arrive optimistic, sometimes too optimistic and we have to lower that optimism but try and keep it throughout the weekend. But it becomes very clear straightaway where we stand and that we still often have the limitations that we do.”

Alonso has already won two world championships after double success with Renault in 2005 and 2006. However, Leclerc is still waiting for a proper opportunity to battle for the title after Ferrari’s chance of beating Red Bull last season imploded.

Jordan added: “We still have not seen enough from Leclerc for me to say otherwise, but the pressure of driving for Ferrari is huge. If Leclerc went to a smaller team like Mercedes, you would see fireworks from him.”

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