Button on Lewis contract extension: "He knows how talented Max is"

With England narrowly missing out on the European Championship title in football, hopes are now set on Formula 1. On the legendary Silverstone circuit George Russell, Lando Norris but especially Lewis Hamilton will have to try to keep the honour of the nation high. That this will not be easy with the presence of Max Verstappen is also clear for the British.

Battles on the track

At Sky Sports F1 Jenson Button is asked what he thinks the weekend at Silverstone will bring. Will it be Max or Lewis? "That's so exciting. You really don't know. Normally you can say early in the season that the championship is going to Mercedes and it's probably Lewis Hamilton who will be champion. However, this year he has a real challenge."

"He [Lewis] knows he is behind Verstappen in the championship at the moment, but he will fight with him again on track later this year, I have that feeling. And Silverstone is a circuit where the Mercedes should do well, so it will be a very close fight with Max. And I also think Lewis enjoys it. He enjoys fighting someone on the track," said the former world champion.

New contract

Button also believes he knows why Hamilton has decided to re-sign. "He knows how talented Max is and he also knows how good Red Bull is. So yeah, I think it's an interesting fight for him, and that also ensures he's still interested in Formula One and why he signed a new two-year contract."