Eddie Jordan shares if Lewis Hamilton can beat Max Verstappen as Red Bull teammates

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Eddie Jordan is adamant that Formula 1 legend Lewis Hamilton is now too old to join Red Bull as Max Verstappen’s teammate with his contract at Mercedes still uncertain.

The seven-time F1 champion is set to become a free agent at the end of the current season. Hamilton has driven for Mercedes for the past 11 years and won six Driver’s Championships with the Silver Arrows. Yet, despite Toto Wolff’s public claims, a new deal remains unsigned.

Mercedes currently pay Hamilton £40m-a-year owing to the Briton being one of the greatest drivers of all time. He has won more Grands Prix (103), scored more pole positions (104) and finished on the podium (195) more often than any driver in F1 history across his 322 entries.

Wolff’s confidence in Hamilton’s new Mercedes contract is yet to materialise

Verstappen is now working his way up Formula 1’s leaderboards, as well, thanks to Red Bull producing a dominant car. The 25-year-old already ranks in fifth for wins (45), 10th for poles (27) and seventh for podium finishes (89) across his 175 entries. He made his debut in 2015.

Losing Hamilton at the end of 2023 would be a bitter blow for Mercedes as they bid to move back to the front of the grid. The 38-year-old has been a fundamental figure in the Brackley outfit’s successes. Yet Wolff’s optimism in his new contract in June has not yet materialised.

Mercedes CEO and F1 team principal Wolff told CNBC: “[Hamilton’s new contract] is going to happen soon and we are talking more days than weeks. We are trying hard [to get it done]. I will see him today [before the Canadian Grand Prix] and maybe we will talk about it.”

Jordan doubts Hamilton would beat Verstappen as Red Bull teammates

Hamilton possibly hitting the market at the end of 2023 could tempt Red Bull into looking at forming one of F1’s best ever driver pairings by replacing Sergio Perez with the Stevenage-born hero next to Verstappen. The Mexican has failed to challenge the Dutchman regularly.

Red Bull know that Perez is a strong No2 beside Verstappen and is willing to play the team game when needed. But the appeal of boasting Hamilton and Verstappen in a powerhouse line-up could see team principal Christian Horner look to free Perez from his contract early.

Yet former F1 team owner Jordan is not sure that Red Bull should try to end Hamilton’s bond with Mercedes and pair him with Verstappen. Instead, while the Irishman believes the Silver Arrows star will win races again, he feels Hamilton would lose to Verstappen in the same car.

“Yes,” Jordan replied when asked by the Formula For Success podcast if Hamilton is now too old to go toe-to-toe with Verstappen at Red Bull. “I think he will still win Grands Prix but he will need certain things to fall in place with him.

“Max is at the sweet spot for age, experience, belief [and] knowledge. The people he’s been around with the team and I think in the same car, right at this moment as we speak with the same ages, it has to be Max.”