Hamilton issues message to Verstappen amid F1 success

Lewis Hamilton has offered Max Verstappen words of advice amid the Dutchman's strong run of success in Formula 1.

Verstappen dominated last year's campaign en route to his third Drivers' Championship and is already the runaway favourite to prevail in the upcoming season.

Only Hamilton and Michael Schumacher sit ahead of Verstappen in the all-time F1 win list.

Hamilton, who has seven titles to his name, has been competing off the front running pace over the last two seasons following Mercedes' slump in form.

Speaking to Formule1.nl, the Briton advised Verstappen to change nothing regarding his approach to F1.

"Keep doing what you're doing, I would say,“ he said. “He's doing great."

F1's best three?

Although Hamilton has not won a Grand Prix since the end of the 2021 campaign, the 39-year-old is still viewed as one of the strongest drivers on the grid.

Among those hailed in the top tier of drivers alongside Hamilton and Verstappen is Fernando Alonso, who is entering his 21st F1 season this year.

When asked if he feels the trio are currently F1's strongest drivers, Hamilton replied: "I think not only us, but all drivers in Formula 1 are hugely driven. Just for different reasons.

“Different upbringing, different opportunities, different challenges. But I see a lot of similarities with all these drivers and also with younger drivers from Formula 2 and Formula 3, for example.

“I think Max and Fernando have one thing in common with me: all three of us are hugely competitive.

“We go to extremes to achieve what we want. What else they are like as people, I can't say much about that.

“I only know them from the Formula 1 world, it's not like I visit them, for example."