Jenson Button names the Formula 1 driver he thinks can challenge Max Verstappen in 2024

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Jenson Button has suggested that Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton could challenge Max Verstappen for the world championship next year.

Max Verstappen is the clear favourite to add to his three titles next year given how dominant Red Bull have been over the past two seasons.

However, speaking to France24, Jenson Button believes that if Mercedes can get their car right, then Lewis Hamilton has every chance of challenging the Dutchman.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has already made it clear that improving on the RB19 is not going to be an easy task.

In the current set of regulations, there doesn’t seem to be an awful lot more than the team can do to improve on their current car.

However, the rest of the field has had the perfect example of what to aim for in terms of their development right in front of them on track all year.

Mercedes went down a different route when it came to the development in 2023 and they could never keep up with their rivals.

However, Jenson Button has backed Hamilton to challenge Verstappen for the championship in 2024 if the car is up to speed.

That’s going to be a difficult job for the team’s engineers especially considering how much Toto Wolff and Hamilton hated the W14.

But stranger things have happened before and Aston Martin and McLaren proved last season that big jumps can be made with the right upgrades.

Button backs Hamilton to challenge Verstappen for championship

Talking about the seven-time world champion, Button said: “Lewis wouldn’t race if he didn’t think he wasn’t good enough.

“Lewis is definitely good enough to win races and to win a championship — with the right car.

“Coming up against Max is difficult but if Lewis is in a car that suits him and Max is in a car that suits him… I look forward to that fight.

“Hopefully we will see it before Lewis retires, he’s definitely got the ability to do that.”

As Button says, many F1 fans would love to see Hamilton challenge for another championship before he leaves the sport.

He’s already signed up until the end of 2025 and if he feels Mercedes have nailed the car for the regulation changes in 2026 then it would be a surprise to see him bow out then.

Russell has admitted that Mercedes are still trying to work out why there was such a big difference between his and Hamilton’s performance at certain races.

There are still plenty of issues for the team to fix, but if they can deliver a race-winning car then Hamilton is exactly the right driver to deliver results.