Karun Chandhok overlooks Lewis Hamilton as he chooses his current dream Formula 1 team

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Sky Sports pundit and former Formula 1 driver Karun Chandhok has tried to answer one of the most difficult questions possible about the current grid.

Although there are only 20 drivers on the Formula 1 grid, the difference between them is arguably smaller than ever before.

During Q1 at the Italian Grand Prix, last-place Liam Lawson was less than eight-tenths slower than the fastest driver, George Russell.

The relative pace of each team’s car is crucial to deciding the pecking order, but there have regularly been top 10 shootouts in qualifying involving seven or more manufacturers.

Oscar Piastri currently leads the drivers’ championship ahead of McLaren teammate Lando Norris.

Piastri had a nightmare Azerbaijan Grand Prix, but Norris couldn’t capitalise, and Max Verstappen secured back-to-back victories for the first time this season.

Verstappen is one of only three world champions on the grid, with Fernando Alonso still searching for his first win in more than a decade and Lewis Hamilton struggling during his maiden campaign with Ferrari.

Karun Chandhok was asked to name his current Formula 1 dream team, and after overlooking Hamilton for Piastri, he chose another non-champion on the grid to pair with the Dutchman.

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

Karun Chandhok chooses Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen as his dream Formula 1 team

Chandhok was asked during a recent AMA on Reddit which two current drivers he would pick if he were a team principal, and what engine and parts supplier he would like.

He answered: “I think I would pick Verstappen and Piastri with a McLaren Mercedes”

Piastri has been brilliant this season, opening up a 25-point gap over Norris despite having four fewer seasons of experience.

His recent performances have dropped off slightly compared to his teammate, with Norris beating him at Monza and qualifying ahead of him in Baku before the Australian’s first-lap crash.

Meanwhile, Verstappen has extracted the maximum performance out of a Red Bull car that has rarely been at the same level as McLaren’s MCL39.

However, that didn’t stop him from winning at Suzuka or Imola, and his recent victories in the past two races with an upgraded Red Bull have suddenly put him back in the conversation for the drivers’ championship.

READ MORE: McLaren driver Oscar Piastri’s life outside F1 from height to girlfriend

McLaren won’t prioritise Oscar Piastri yet despite Max Verstappen threat

Verstappen knows that if he wins every race between now and the end of the season, it still won’t be enough to beat Piastri.

The Australian would need to finish third at every race and fail to outscore Verstappen in the final three Sprint Races.

Therefore, McLaren won’t prioritise Piastri over Norris yet; however, another win for the Dutchman in Singapore would put Andrea Stella under increasing pressure to act.

Verstappen has experience on his side, having fought against Hamilton in one of the most intense championship battles to date.

While Piastri is a back-to-back F3 and F2 champion, the focus of the world’s motorsport fans is now on him, and Baku suggested there are opportunities to unsettle him despite his calm persona.

Chandhok has likely made the right choice, suggesting that Piastri and Verstappen are the two drivers you would want from the current grid.

However, Norris, George Russell and even Charles Leclerc might have something to say about that.