Which team can most challenge Verstappen's Red Bull in '24? 'Mercedes'

Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing can expect the most opposition from Mercedes next season, according to Jenson Button. The one-time world champion expects a tormented Lewis Hamilton and, moreover, Mercedes has the qualities to fight for world titles again. However, Button just does not know if that will happen by 2024.

When the 43-year-old driver was asked by Sky Sports about which team he thinks is most likely to take the fight to Red Bull, he replied: "Mercedes". "When you look at the last 10 years in the sport, it's Mercedes and Red Bull, so it would be Mercedes."

Button himself hopes Ferrari will also manage to compete at the top level for a whole year, but he does not seem entirely convinced of that. "I would love to say, Ferrari; I would love to have them in the mix. You could say they were the closest competitor, especially towards the end of the season, but I think Mercedes will have a good improvement [for 2024]. Whether it's enough, I don't know."

Hamilton motivated

Lewis Hamilton did not win a race in Formula 1 in the past two seasons. Despite the fact that Mercedes was not really competitive with the W13 and W14, the seven-time world champion did extend his contract for two seasons until the end of 2025. Hamilton is keen to take his eighth title, it seems.

"When you've won for so many years and then suddenly that's taken away from you, it can work in two different ways. One, you are just like 'well, there's no point anymore, I want to retire, I've been at the peak for so long and now I've not won a race in two years'. But also it can make you more hungry to get back to that, and Lewis is in that position right now I think," Button said.