Albers: 'Verstappen is a totally different driver than Hamilton'

For the third race in a year we saw a battle between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen on track. Also in Portugal, we saw overtaking between the two drivers, with Hamilton eventually coming out on top.

Totally different drivers

In the championship, there are now eight points between Hamilton and Verstappen, who have taken it in turns to win. With three races completed the score is 2-1 in victories, with the other driver always in second place.

In the Formula 1 podcast of Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf Christijan Albers tells about the two drivers. "They are both natural talents. They are the ones who will fight for the championship this year," predicts the former Formula One driver. "But Max is a totally different driver to Lewis."

Clear difference

According to Albers, you could clearly see the difference between the two drivers at the start of the race in Portugal. "Max you see driving much more attacking. He thinks 'left or right, I have to pass them, and when I have passed them it remains to be seen if they will pass me'."

According to Albers, it is very different with Hamilton. "On the other hand, you see Lewis Hamilton driving much calmer in the beginning of the race. Much calmer, much calmer, much earlier braking. Asking less of his tyres than Max. You do just notice that's where Lewis is taking his gains in the races at the moment."