Too weak for Verstappen? Albon is threatened with extinction

When Hamilton thinks of lone fighter Verstappen, he remembers Heikki Kovalainen. The Finn was Hamilton's second teammate after the egocentric Fernando Alonso. Hamilton and Kovalainen drove for McLaren in 2008 and 2009. While the Briton became world champion in their first season together, the man from Finland only came seventh. In 2009, Hamilton finished fifth in the World Championship, Kovalainen twelfth. What are these numbers supposed to show? The hardships of a top pilot without internal support. Hamilton: “Verstappen is on his own” “I was the driver who was always at the front and didn’t have a teammate to support me,” said Hamilton. “You then don’t get the points in the constructors’ championship and you can’t strategically exploit the other cars.” That’s the case at Red Bull, where, in his opinion, Verstappen is “somehow on his own”. Lewis Hamilton (front) and Max Verstappen: The Dutchman can stand up to the Silver Arrows. © APA/afp / LARS BARON

The Dutchman is considered a future world champion. He is also the only driver who is behind the Mercedes duo Hamilton and Bottas this season. The 22-year-old raced onto the podium six times, and at the second Silverstone race he was even on the podium ahead of the two Silver Arrows. But while Hamilton has a loyal and fast supporter in Bottas who can watch his back on the asphalt, Verstappen has to make do with the Thai Alex Albon (24). He's something like his Heikki Kovalainen. “Both drivers are not like Valtteri and me,” Hamilton stated without a doubt. Albon is threatened with leaving Red Bull Verstappen knows that Albon drives more like a Kovalainen and not like a Bottas. Of course, the Red Bull management knows this too. In Spa, the Brause bosses were once again reminded that Albon is not at the level of their top driver. While Verstappen at some point could no longer keep up with the Mercedes pairing and felt “a bit lonely” as his pursuer, Albon only crossed the finish line in sixth behind both Renaults. Not bad, but just not good enough. Pierre Gasly was replaced by Alexander Albon at Red Bull. Now the Thai is also threatened with extinction. © APA/afp / GERARD JULIEN

The question is: How long can Albon continue on the Red Bull path? The London native, who drives under the Thai flag, was only promoted by sister team Toro Rosso in the summer of 2019. In the tough selection process, Pierre Gasly was demoted to the now renamed Alpha Tauri team. Albon needs to pick up the pace and reduce his gap to Verstappen, otherwise he will become the next Kovalainen.

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Too weak for Verstappen? Albon is threatened with extinction

Max Verstappen wants to stand up to the Mercedes duo. But while Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas push each other to peak performance, the Dutchman is missing a strong teammate.

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