Max Verstappen has performed an overtaking manoeuvre to stand alone as “the fastest driver” on the 2021 grid. “But you have to say Lewis Hamilton is probably still the top driver. It’s been fantastic to watch those two guys go at it,” he said. “So it’s a bit like the Michael Schumacher effect,” he said. “They’re both de facto number 2s, but I don’t think against two guys like Hamilton and Verstappen that’s a great negative,” Irvine added. “I don’t think anybody in Formula 1 would go up against those two guys and regularly beat them. “And I think people know that anyone who goes against Verstappen is going to get beaten because of his pure speed,” said the former Ferrari driver.

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