Lewis Hamilton makes surprising Max Verstappen comment as Brit excited in Japan

Lewis Hamilton is looking forward to seeing the RB19 operate at Suzuka this weekend with the Mercedes star expecting Max Verstappen and Red Bull to bounce back in Japan.

The Milton Keynes-based outfit have travelled to Japan off the back of their toughest weekend of the season with Red Bull’s winning streak coming to an end at the Singapore Grand Prix.

Verstappen and team-mate Sergio Perez both struggled with the balance of the RB19 throughout the weekend, but the general consensus in the paddock is that the reigning constructor champions will bounce back at Suzuka – a track that they have typically dominated in the past.

On Hamilton’s side, he’ll be hoping to carry over some momentum after taking his fifth podium of the campaign in Singapore. That result moved him ten points clear of Fernando Alonso in the battle for P3 in the Drivers’ Championship. 

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Speaking about the chances of beating Red Bull in Japan this weekend, Hamilton said: “I would think that if they are not 30 seconds ahead like they have done in the past.

“They had a difficult weekend at the last one but their car should be phenomenal here. They have been phenomenal all year long with pace at pretty much every circuit and it is going to be great to watch that car in general.

“Normally, when we come here, it’s so beautiful to watch the laps that they do because the team as a whole and the drivers do an amazing job with the package they have. I hope we can be closer and I hope they are not as fast as the 30-second gap.”

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Despite being utterly dominant until this point in the season, Red Bull were miles off the pace at the Marina Bay street circuit last weekend, coming home fifth and eighth after recovering from a poorly-timed safety car.

The extent of the team’s struggles has sparked some hopes that Verstappen can be beaten again, although looking back to his performance at Suzuka last season, that is unlikely. 

In a race that was shortened due to lengthy rain delays, Verstappen stretched out a 27-second lead at the head of the field as he clinched his second World Championship with one of the drives of the season. 

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