​Max Verstappen won the Miami Grand Prix, starting ninth in the race. He is the champion of the last two editions of Formula 1, but none of his rivals consider him the fastest driver in the Grand Circus.

Max VerstappenPhoto: Luca Bruno/AP/Profimedia

>> Formula 1 – how RedBull mocks rivals Ferrari and Mercedes

Hamilton is faster than Westappen and Leclerc, says Valtteri Bottas

On the Beyond the Grid podcast, Valtteri Bottas (current Alfa Romeo driver and former teammate of Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes) says, among other things, that Max Verstappen is not the fastest driver in Formula 1.

Finn makes it clear that Max only benefits from the best single-seater on the grid, but he’s not the fastest in the Grand Circus.

“I think Lewis Hamilton is still the fastest driver on the grid,” he says. Bottasquoted by PlanetF1.com.

When asked if he thinks Hamilton (38) is faster than even Verstappen (25 – RedBull) or Leclerc (25 – Ferrari), Valtteri Bottas confirmed: “Yes, for me he is the fastest (without Hamilton).”

“He’s extremely talented, but on top of that, he works harder than people think outside of race weekends.

The latter leaves the paddock countless times on race weekends.

It is about a fantastic internal motivation to win. It has very good average performance and is also very consistent. That’s why he’s so hard to beat.

When I did (not beat him) it was because I had a great day, but on average I didn’t do it,” he adds Valtteri Bottas.

Max Verstappen, having played five Grands Prix this season, leads the hierarchy with 119 points.

Lewis Hamilton is 4th with 56 points, Charles Leclerc is 7th with 34 points and Valtteri Bottas has 4 points and is 13th overall.

Formula 1 – Tournament table of pilots

1 Max Verstappen – RedBull 119 points

2 Sergio Perez – RedBull 105

3 Fernando Alonso – Aston Martin 75

4 Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes 56

5 Carlos Sainz – Ferrari 44

6 George Russell – Mercedes 40

7 Charles Leclerc – Ferrari 34

8 Lance Stroll – Aston Martin 27

9 Lando Norris – McLaren 10

10 Pierre Gasly – Alpine 8, etc.

Formula 1 season calendar for 2023

March 5: Bahrain – victory for Max Verstappen

March 19: Saudi Arabia – Sergio Perez defeated

April 2: Australia – victory for Max Verstappen

April 30: Azerbaijan / Baku – Winner Sergio Perez

May 7: Miami – victory for Max Verstappen

May 21: Emilia-Romagna / Imola

May 28: Monaco

June 4: Spain / Barcelona

June 18: Canada / Montreal

July 2: Austria / Spielberg

July 9: Great Britain / Silverstone

July 23: Hungary / Budapest

July 30: Belgium / Spa-Francorchamps

August 27: Netherlands / Zandvoort

September 3: Italy / Monza

September 17: Singapore / Marina Bay

September 24: Japan / Suzuka

October 8: Qatar / Losail

October 22: USA / Austin

October 29: Mexico / Mexico City

November 5: Brazil / Sao Paulo

November 18: Las Vegas

November 26: Abu Dhabi / Yas Marina.