Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen rank among the most successful drivers in F1 history, both dominating different eras. The rivalry between the two drivers in recent years will be fondly remembered by F1 supporters, especially Verstappen’s controversial 2021 World Championship win.
Max Verstappen as an F1 Driver
- Nationality: Netherlands
- Career: 2015-Present
- World Drivers’ Championships: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
- Wins: 65
- Teams: Scuderia Toro Rosso, Red Bull Racing
Since his debut at just 17 years old in 2015, Max Verstappen has built a reputation as the sport’s most aggressive and fearless racer. He arrived in the competition as the youngest ever competitor. In his first race with Red Bull at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix, he became the youngest-ever Formula One race winner at 18 years and 228 days old.
From 2021 onward, Verstappen’s dominance has been nearly unchallenged, as his partnership with Red Bull yielded one of the most commanding periods in F1 history. With four consecutive World Championships, Verstappen has cemented himself as a generational talent capable of rewriting the sport’s record books.
Lewis Hamilton as an F1 Driver
- Nationality: United Kingdom
- Career: 2007-Present
- World Drivers’ Championships: 2008, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
- Wins: 105
- Teams: McLaren, Mercedes, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton delivered his first title in his sophomore F1 season after kicking off a ferocious rivalry with McLaren teammate Fernando Alonso in 2007. Aged just 23 years and 300 days, he’s the second-youngest champion after Sebastian Vettel. His career has been nothing short of extraordinary, spanning nearly two decades at the pinnacle of motorsport.
Hamilton dominated the era with Mercedes, winning six titles between 2014 and 2020, and he became renowned for his ability to deliver under immense pressure. He also became the first black driver in the sport’s history, shaping the F1 culturally. Even in the later stages of his career, he remains competitive against younger rivals, showing his experience and dominance as a driver.
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Verstappen and Hamilton’s Rivalry in the Controversial Final Race in 2021
No discussion about Hamilton and Verstappen is complete without revisiting the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. This race is easily the most controversial finale in F1 history. Both drivers entered the final race level on points, highlighting their relentless pursuit of victory.
For most of the race, Hamilton appeared to be in control and was on course to secure a record-breaking eighth World Championship. The race, however, took a dramatic turn when Nicholas Latifi crashed, bringing out the Safety Car.
In the closing stages, Race Director Michael Masi made a highly debated decision. Only the lapped cars between Verstappen and Hamilton were allowed to unlap themselves, creating a direct head-to-head sprint on the final lap. Verstappen, who had just switched to fresh soft tyres, seized the opportunity, overtaking Hamilton on Turn 5 of the last lap to win both the race and the World Championship. The FIA later admitted procedural errors were made and restructured race management in response.
Max Verstappen vs Lewis Hamilton: The Comparison
To this date, Max Verstappen has featured in 225 Grand Prix. So, to draw a successful comparison between the two, the table considers the data from the first 225 races of both drivers.
| Metric | Max Verstappen | Lewis Hamilton |
|---|---|---|
| World Championships | 4 (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024) | 4 (2008, 2014, 2015, 2017) |
| Grand Prix Wins | 66 | 71 |
| Grand Prix Podiums | 119 | 131 |
| Pole Positions | 45 | 80 |
| Fastest Laps | 34 | 40 |
| Career Points | 3,253.50 | 2,941 |
Hamilton holds the edge in most traditional categories: wins, podiums, poles, and consistency. Verstappen, on the other hand, edges ahead in points per race, which may be a result of the modern scoring system and sprint formats.
Both drivers claimed four World Championships within their first 225 Grand Prix. However, it is important to realise that Hamilton was on route to claiming his fifth title, whereas Verstappen doesn’t seem likely to win the 2025 World Drivers’ Championship.
Conclusion
The data shows that both drivers are extraordinarily close in achievements when judged over the same span of 225 races. While judging purely by the numbers from their first 225 Grands Prix, Lewis Hamilton holds the edge. He recorded more wins, more podiums, and nearly double the pole positions, highlighting his strength across both qualifying and race day.
Verstappen, however, is still in the middle of his prime, and if his current trajectory continues, he may surpass Hamilton’s records in the years ahead. Perhaps the fairest verdict is that Formula 1 has been fortunate to witness two drivers whose legacies will define their generations.
Written by: Thillai Ritvik
