Lewis Hamilton's ex-F1 team-mate puts Max Verstappen above him and Michael Schumacher

Former F1 world champion Jenson Button has risked upsetting Lewis Hamilton after ranking Max Verstappen above him. Button and Hamilton were team-mates at McLaren from 2010 to 2012, before the 40-year-old joined Mercedes in a move that would ultimately change the face of the sport.

Hamilton has since become a seven-time world champion, a record only matched by Michael Schumacher. However, Verstappen is now threatening to dethrone both icons after winning his fourth straight title in 2024 at the age of 27. Speaking on The Chris Moyles Show on Radio X, Button weighed in on the debate over who was F1's most superior driver.

Having named Verstappen as the best current competitor, he added: "I feel he's the most rounded F1 driver that there has ever been. And I know he hasn't won the championships of Lewis Hamilton.

"I obviously think Lewis is extremely, extremely good and one of the best in the world. But there's just something about Max that he can do something with a car that I don't think anyone else can."

Button's argument that the Dutchman's ability outweighs the number of F1 crowns won by Hamilton and Schumacher is unlikely to be well received by his compatriot. He did however, defend both drivers for being "cocky and arrogant" during the early stages of their careers, and praised Hamilton's achievements.

He said: "Lewis, I was teammates with him for three years, and the talent, the natural ability, he has is unbelievable. I'm not sure anyone's going to beat his records."

For the latest breaking stories and headlines, sign up to our Daily Express F1 newsletter, or join our WhatsApp community here.

Hamilton remains the only McLaren driver to win the world title since 1999, doing so in 2008, just his second season in F1. Button succeeded him as world champion the following year with Brawn GP before switching to the British team.

In their three years together, their on-track performance was similar. Button actually notched more points and podiums than his partner, but Hamilton took more victories and pole positions.