Sergio Perez supporter Felipe Massa casts doubt on the ability of Lewis Hamilton or Fernando Alonso to beat Max Verstappen

There has been ongoing speculation about whether Max Verstappen could be defeated by any driver on the current grid in the near future. Many believed that, if not for the young talents in the industry, experienced drivers such as Fernando Alonso or Lewis Hamilton might have a chance to surpass the Dutch sensation one day.

However, Felipe Massa, the legendary Brazilian driver, dismissed these speculations by firmly stating that no other driver would be able to beat Verstappen on the grid anytime soon.

Massa doubts Hamilton or Alonso can beat Max Verstappen

Massa highlighted Verstappen’s exceptional skills, emphasizing that not just any ordinary driver could outperform the Dutch racer on the track. This includes highly experienced drivers like Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton, who have been part of the racing sector for a considerable time.

The Brazilian suggested that while Alonso and Hamilton might pose a significant challenge to Verstappen, they would ultimately fall shortage of completely surpassing him in a race.

“What Max is showing this season is of an unprecedented level,” Massa told Formule 1 magazine in the Netherlands.

“Even if you put Lewis Hamilton or Fernando Alonso in the other car, I’m not sure much would change.”

“Maybe a little bit, but believe me, they wouldn’t beat Max either.”

Christian Horner guides Perez in quest to match Verstappen

Sergio Perez has had a challenging season, struggling to keep pace with his Dutch teammate, Max Verstappen.

The consistent victories by the Dutch driver have added pressure on the Mexican, and he faced difficulties in consistently performing well under such conditions. Currently, Checo is at risk of losing his second position to Lewis Hamilton, with only a 32-point lead over the British driver.

Despite the tough situation, the team boss, Christian Horner, has advised Perez to ignore Verstappen’s performance data and instead focus on his performance within the car.

Horner said, “When you’re looking at the data of what Max is doing, you’ve only got if you look at a race like Japan,”

“The very first lap that Max does out of the pits is two seconds quicker than the rest of the field.”

“And you’re looking at that data and you’re thinking, ‘How has he done that? How has he done that?’ And so often, that will happen.”

“The problem is for Checo, he’s trying to compare himself to Max and what he needs to do is forget about Max.”

“[He needs to] just focus on himself, don’t even look at his data. Just focus on being the best you can be.”

“As we saw earlier in the year, some sometimes that can be good enough.”

Do you think Perez will be able to proceed throughout the remaining season if he pays heed to Horner’s advice? Tell us in the comment section below.