F1 News: Jenson Button Reveals He Would Be More Fearful Of Racing Against Max Verstappen Than Lewis Hamilton

Jenson Button explains how the RB19 is so well-suited to Max Verstappen that he'd be more fearful racing against him than Lewis Hamilton.

Lewis Hamilton's teammate from his McLaren days, Jenson Button, has revealed that though Hamilton's had tough teammates in the past, with some being world champions, he would be more fearful racing against Max Verstappen in an RB19 than Lewis. 

The comments come a few days after the Hamilton vs. Verstappen teammate debate through which, Hamilton intended to prove that he's had to rival against stronger teammates in the past than Verstappen.

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After signing his contract with Mercedes for the next two years, Hamilton revealed that throughout his career, he's had to deal with tough competition from potent teammates within the team as opposed to Verstappen's teammates who have not been as strong as his. 

The British driver tried to prove that he had tougher competition within the team, as opposed to Verstappen's journey which has been relatively easier. The comparison has sparked quite a debate as many experts have chosen to respond strongly against it. 

Button was Hamilton's teammate for three years at McLaren and affirms that he has had to deal with tougher colleagues. However, Button also said that if he was given an RB19, he would be more fearful racing against Verstappen than his former teammate.

He gives credit to the way Adrian Newey designed the RB19 which is, in the eyes of some, sort of tailor-made for Verstappen. And that is what makes it a lot easier for the Dutch driver to adapt so well to the car, that he can be seen nowhere in sight once he's ahead of the pack. He told Sky Sports News:

“I think Lewis has had some very tough team-mates. He’s had World Champions as team-mates, whereas Max hasn’t. 

"But for me, I would be more fearful going up against Max in the same car – and I think it is because the car is designed around his style, or he can drive a car that Adrian Newey gives him.

"I think Adrian Newey gives him a car and says: ‘This is the quickest car in the world. If you take away front downforce, it’s going to go slower, but it’ll be easier to drive’ and Max is like: ‘Right. I have to drive how you’ve made this car and I need to drive it as quick as I can.’

"So I think that he’s very good at that, and I think a lot of drivers struggle to compete with that. It’s a long answer, but it’s a difficult one.

"I think Lewis has had more difficult team-mates, but I also wouldn’t want to go up against Max. I mean, they’re all unbelievable drivers. The best in the world, and some of the best we’ve ever seen in Formula 1."

The 2009 world champion wished there was more competition in the front but gave due credit to Red Bull for being ahead in the tech race. He added:

"I wish there was more competition at the front between Max, Lewis, Fernando [Alonso], those three for me are the ones that stand out.

"But it’s not the way in Formula 1, it’s a technology race and Red Bull, fair play to them, they’re doing a better job right now.”