Hamilton vs Verstappen: Two titles in first eight F1 seasons

Dutch Max Verstappen has now completed eight seasons in Formula 1 and has two titles behind his name. His 2021 rival Lewis Hamilton also had two world titles after his first eight seasons. There are some striking similarities and interesting differences between the two drivers.

Eight years of Verstappen vs eight years of Hamilton

Hamilton, along with Michael Schumacher, holds the record for most F1 titles. The record of seven is particularly impressive and in the F1 world it is often about who can match these two great drivers. Verstappen, who won the F1 title the past two years, is often compared to Hamilton given their fierce rivalry. Looking at Verstappen's first eight seasons and Hamilton's, the Red Bull Racing driver seems to be on course to win a multitude of titles as well.

Hamilton made his debut in 2007 and immediately fought for the title that year. He lost the battle by one point to Kimi Raikkonen, but the following year he took revenge and still took his first title very early in his F1 career. His second title took a while to come. Only six years later, in 2014, he managed to win again at Mercedes. It became the beginning of an extraordinary series of title fights that he only narrowly lost twice through 2021.

Super start versus upward trend

Hamilton's erratic first eight years in which he was 'dry' for five years after a super start in Formula 1 is in stark contrast to Verstappen's first eight years, although the Dutchman also has two titles behind his name after the first eight years. For Verstappen, it started in 2015 at Toro Rosso, where he finished 12th. That was a handsome performance as Toro Rosso was the seventh team on the grid and Verstappen finished two spots above teammate Carlos Sainz. From P12 in 2015, Verstappen continued an upward trend.

In 2016, the Dutchman was promoted to Red Bull Racing before the Spanish Grand Prix. He won that first race and Verstappen finished the year in fifth place. In the following year, he finished sixth, despite almost a record number of DNFs (7) in one season. In 2018, Verstappen finished fourth, beating Mercedes' runner-up Valtteri Bottas. In the second half of his F1 career, Verstappen was initially unable to compete for the title, but did get more out of the car than thought possible in 2019 and 2020. When he got a truly competitive car in 2021 and 2022, he took his two titles.

Rising line bodes well for Verstappen

Verstappen's upward trend looks a lot different from Hamilton's performance. Part of this can be explained by the cars the drivers had at their disposal. That both drivers are at the same number of titles after the point of eight seasons is a striking similarity. That Verstappen's upward trend is noticeable and that Red Bull has started the new 2022 era strongly bodes well for Verstappen's future and gives him the opportunity to follow Hamilton's career trajectory after his first eight years.

Verstappen has indicated in several interviews over the past two years that he is not going for statistics and records. In addition, his plan to stop driving in F1 (for a long time) after his current contract expires after 2028 seems increasingly serious. Verstappen would have it in him to attack the records of Schumacher and Hamilton, but whether he will give himself the time to do so remains to be seen.