F1: ‘Max Verstappen would beat Lewis Hamilton in a Mercedes’, says Nico Rosberg

Rosberg: Verstappen is simply the best

Nico Rosberg believes that Max Verstappen would be ahead of Lewis Hamilton in the Formula 1 championship if they were both driving for Mercedes.

After his win at the chaotic German Grand Prix on Sunday Verstappen remains third in the drivers’ standings, but is now only 22 points behind second-placed Valtteri Bottas. World champion Hamilton tops the season leaderboard with 225 points from 11 races.

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Speaking on his YouTube channel after the German GP, former Mercedes driver Rosberg said of Verstappen: “It is already his second win of the season and he is only 22 points from Bottas in a Mercedes. He is well ahead of the Ferraris, who generally have a better car than Verstappen.

“He is incredible this year, he is doing very well this season and is currently only 61 points behind Lewis. That is quite impressive halfway through the season.”

Verstappen has been linked with a future move to Mercedes as a potential partner for Hamilton. Rosberg added: “If they were to drive the same car, I think Verstappen would be in front of Hamilton in the championship right now. Although this weekend’s lower score [of Hamilton] also has to do with that.

“Verstappen is simply the best at the moment driver in Formula 1. It is very impressive what he shows, the Netherlands is going crazy, they are still celebrating in the stands. It is beautiful to see and that is what we simply want.”

Gasly safe at Red Bull… this season

While Max Verstappen is performing superbly the same can’t be said for his Red Bull team-mate Pierre Gasly.

The Frenchman has struggled since stepping up from Toro Rosso and in Germany on Sunday he crashed out after colliding with Alex Albon.

With Toro Rosso’s Daniil Kvyat securing a podium at Hockenheim there has been suggestions that he could replace Gasly at Red Bull mid-way through this season.

However, Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko has quashed those claims. He told Motorsport.com: “This year we won’t change. We will end the season as we currently are.”

Marko did admit that Kvyat’s form is putting Gasly under pressure.

Drivers fight for German GP’s future

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel and Mercedes’s Lewis Hamilton have pleaded with Formula 1 bosses to keep the German Grand Prix on the schedule. With the Dutch and Vietnam GPs on the calendar for 2020, Germany and Spain could miss out.

The drama of Sunday’s race at Hockenheim has prompted F1’s top drivers to speak out about Hockenheim’s future, GrandPX reports.

German driver Vettel told DPA: “We just had a great race and it would be a shame to lose it. It’s important to have the sport where the passion is.

“Germany and Spain have long histories of racing, so it would be a pity to lose them and instead go to a place where they pay millions to host the race but nobody is in the stands.”

Five-time world champion Hamilton added: “There are only a few races that are the home of motor sport with such passionate spectators. Whatever happens, we 100% need a German GP.”