Eddie Irvine Urges Max Verstappen to Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton Excluded from Top Driver List

Max Verstappen to Ferrari Plea as Hamilton Ignored

The Formula 1 world continues to buzz with driver market speculation and on-track rivalries, highlighted by a former Ferrari driver's push for Max Verstappen and Verstappen's own ranking of top drivers – notably omitting Lewis Hamilton.

Why it matters:

These comments from influential figures like Eddie Irvine and Max Verstappen offer significant insights into potential future lineups and current perceptions of driver performance and team dynamics. They fuel ongoing debates about F1's top talent and strategic team moves.

The details:

• Irvine's Ferrari Vision for Verstappen: Former Ferrari grand prix winner Eddie Irvine expressed his desire to see Max Verstappen join Ferrari. Irvine believes Verstappen could replicate Michael Schumacher's transformative impact at Maranello. He cautioned Verstappen against joining too late in his career, an error he attributes to Lewis Hamilton's move.

• Hamilton Misses Verstappen's Standouts: Max Verstappen, when asked to identify standout drivers on the current F1 grid, included Fernando Alonso and Charles Leclerc. However, he notably excluded his former title rival and Leclerc's future Ferrari teammate, Lewis Hamilton.

• Rosberg on Hamilton's Ferrari Motive: Nico Rosberg, Hamilton's former Mercedes teammate, suggested a hidden motive behind Hamilton's 2025 move to Ferrari. Beyond realizing a childhood dream, Rosberg believes the switch offers Hamilton the benefit of fewer sponsor commitments.

• Red Bull's Monza Breakthrough Credited to Mekies: Following Max Verstappen's dominant Italian Grand Prix victory at Monza, securing pole with a new lap record, Nico Rosberg and Sky F1's David Croft attributed Red Bull's success to new team boss Laurent Mekies. Croft argued Mekies played a crucial role by translating Verstappen's setup feedback, a skill he implied former boss Christian Horner lacked due to his non-engineering background.

• Hadjar 'Ready' for Red Bull, Says Lawson: Liam Lawson, currently with Racing Bulls, stated that his teammate Isack Hadjar is "ready" for a promotion to the senior Red Bull team for the 2026 season. Hadjar is having a strong rookie F1 season, making him a prime candidate for the coveted seat alongside Verstappen.

What's next:

These narratives will continue to shape discussions around future driver transfers, team leadership impacts, and the evolving pecking order in Formula 1. The F1 paddock will be watching closely as these dynamics unfold.