Button: Verstappen ‘annihilating’ F1 teammates like Senna

Jenson Button says Max Verstappen has “annihilated” his Formula 1 teammates in a similar manner to the likes of Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher. 

Verstappen currently sits second in the championship and is 37 points behind Lewis Hamilton after a run of five consecutive podium finishes that has including a top two appearance in each of the past four races, and a win at the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone. 

In contrast, Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate Alex Albon has only managed a best result of fourth place and is 55 points further back, sitting P6 in the championship standings. 

Verstappen has not been beaten by a teammate in the F1 world championship since he went up against Daniel Ricciardo back in 2017 - though he did out-qualify the Australian 13-7 that year. He has comprehensively outperformed Pierre Gasly and Albon since Ricciardo departed for Renault. 

"You compare him to his team-mates the last two years, he has just annihilated them," Button told the Australian Grand Prix’s ‘In the Fast Lane’ podcast.

"I haven't seen that in motorsport for a very long time, probably back to the Ayrton Senna days, and Michael Schumacher days.

"I don't think there's been a driver that's annihilated their team-mate like he has in a very long time.

"He is doing an exceptional job. I would love to see him go up against Lewis [Hamilton] in a championship fight.

"Those two, top of their game, it's what we all want to see. Is it ever going to happen? I don't know.”

The 2009 world champion believes Verstappen’s superiority over Albon at Red Bull has actually left the Dutchman facing a tougher time making progress.  

“Alex is a long way off of Max,” Button explained. “It’s tough for [Max] because now he doesn’t have the competitive teammate, really. He’s out on his own. He’s probably not able to progress as much because his teammate isn’t where he is at in terms of pace.

“When your teammate’s half a second off you, which he normally is, you don’t tend to listen to his set-up changes and his set-up work, so you’re basically a one-car team, so it’s tougher. He looks to the Mercedes and I think it frustrates him. 

“I think Silverstone was awesome — what a great result — but then, Barcelona, you can hear the frustration in his voice on the radio. He just can’t challenge them because he doesn’t have the car underneath him. 

“So it’s tough for him, but he’s just got to do the best job he can with what he has.”