David Coulthard explains why he now rates Max Verstappen as a better F1 champion than Lewis Hamilton

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The constant debate that Formula 1 fans have had over the past five years is comparing Red Bull star Max Verstappen with the legendary Lewis Hamilton.

By the time the two drivers finish their F1 careers, it would be a huge surprise if, between them, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton didn’t possess every record going.

Hamilton is the only driver to have won more than 100 Grand Prix, even if he hasn’t added to that tally at Ferrari yet, while Verstappen is the sport’s youngest-ever winner.

David Coulthard thinks Max Verstappen is a better F1 champion than Lewis Hamilton – do you agree?

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Fans have only been treated to one title fight between Hamilton and Verstappen in 2021, and the Red Bull man came out on top that day.

He’s virtually dominated the sport ever since, even coming within two points of completing one of Formula 1’s greatest ever comebacks.

Now, David Coulthard has explained why, despite having won three titles fewer than Hamilton, he believes Verstappen is a greater F1 champion.

READ MORE: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

David Coulthard rates ‘very grounded’ Max Verstappen above Lewis Hamilton

Coulthard was ranking Formula 1 champions on The Red Flags Podcast and came to the match-up between Verstappen and Hamilton.

He explained: “I’m going to go with Max for the following reasons.

“I think that every generation should be better; that’s what evolution is. I think that there’s a crossover of generations there, and Hamilton has been incredible.

“But there’s also a little bit of a disconnect in some ways, and maybe this is a personal opinion.

“Max, I find him very grounded. If he’s here, it’s just Max. He’s present, and we know when he’s doing his interviews and press conferences. If he’s not happy, he says it, and he’s not shy to say that, and he sort of owns his beliefs. You know whether he’s happy, you know whether he’s sad.

“So I go with Verstappen because they’re very difficult to separate the two of them in terms of Hamilton at his peak, and I keep saying that because I’m not sure that he is at his peak anymore – controversial for a loser like me to dare to say that – but it just feels like the greats match their teammates or beat their teammates.

David Coulthard’s full F1 champions ranking! Are there any decisions you disagree with?

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“And in the last couple of years, if I’m not mistaken, he didn’t do that with George, and it doesn’t feel like he’s done that with Charles.

“If we just use the two things that are ultimately important in Formula 1, it’s the stopwatch, and it’s a chequered flag. Everything else is opinion.

“So stopwatch gives you your qualifying position, as we know, the chequered flag gives you the you know number one trophy, and I think that I think the outright speed is maybe not there with Lewis anymore.

“But you’ve got to give him so much respect, but Max, it still feels like he’s developing, it still feels like there’s more to come, it still feels that, how far can this guy go?”

READ MORE: Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton’s life outside F1 from net worth to family

How quickly could Max Verstappen break Lewis Hamilton’s greatest F1 records?

Although Coulthard advanced Verstappen over Hamilton, the Dutchman didn’t come out on top in his overall rankings.

The 13-time race winner ended up choosing Ayrton Senna as his ultimate F1 champion, having worked with the Brazilian during his time at Williams.

There are three records that Hamilton holds that many fans would consider the reason why he’s clear of every other driver in F1 history.

Only Hamilton and Michael Schumacher have won seven championships, and his tally of 105 wins and 104 pole positions is unmatched in the sport.

Red Bull’s level of competitiveness in 2026 is still unknown, but Verstappen is theoretically only three seasons away from becoming F1’s third seven-time champion.

He’s rapidly catching up to Hamilton’s win tally as well, and if he keeps winning at the same rate over the last five years (61 wins since the start of 2021), he’ll overtake Hamilton before the end of 2028, provided the Brit doesn’t stand on the top step of the podium again.

Verstappen has 48 pole positions, and Hamilton’s qualifying record might be the toughest for him to break, as he still needs to more than double his tally to take that accolade away from his Ferrari rival.