Verstappen or Hamilton? F1 race winner gives his verdict

Former F1 driver Giancarlo Fisichella has said he would take Max Verstappen as an F1 team leader over Lewis Hamilton.

Red Bull driver Verstappen has raced into a 125-point advantage over teammate Sergio Perez in the Drivers' standings as he looks to complete a third consecutive championship success.

His first title came at the expense of Hamilton as the pair ignited a rivalry and asked by Corriere Della Sera which he would choose to lead a team, three-time winner Fisichella replied: "Verstappen.

"It's the evolution of the species. Max has something more and gives the impression of driving with one hand."

Fisichella made 229 starts between 1996 and 2009, driving for Minardi, Benetton, Sauber, Jordan, Renault and Force India before finishing his F1 career standing in for the injured Felipe Massa at Ferrari.

His time in F1 overlapped with World Champions such as Hamilton, Kimi Raikkonen and Mika Hakkinen but Fisichella named two others who stood out as competitors.

"Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso are head and shoulders above everyone else," said Fisichella.

"Fernando, at almost 42, is living [through] a second youth with Aston Martin. The car is good, and he puts his heart and desire into it."