'Hamilton teammates were stronger, but I'd be more fearful to take on Max'

Lewis Hamilton caused a stir when he claimed ahead of the Italian Grand Prix that Max Verstappen never had teammates as strong as his own. Jenson Button, himself a former teammate of Hamilton's, thinks the Mercedes driver is right, but makes a comment.

Button believes Hamilton has had "very tough teammates" in his Formula 1 career. "He's had world champion teammates," the 43-year-old Briton stressed in conversation with Sky Sports. He himself drove alongside Hamilton at McLaren from 2010 to 2012, after becoming world champion with Brawn GP in the 2009 F1 season.

He continued: "Max hasn't, but for me I'd be more fearful of Max in the same car. And I think it is because the car is designed around his style or he can drive a car that Adrian Newey gives him."

Button thinks Verstappen has the gift of making the most of a car that is potentially the fastest, even if it is relatively difficult to drive. "I think he's very good at that, and I think a lot of drivers struggle to compete with that," Button stated.

"I think Lewis has had more difficult teammates. But I also wouldn't want to go up against Max," he sums up. "They are all unbelievable drivers, the best in the world. Some of the best we've ever seen in Formula One. I wish there was more competition at the front between Max, Lewis, and Fernando. Those three for me are the ones that stand out. But its not the way in Formula One. It's a technology race and Red Bull, fair play to them. They're doing a better job right now."