'Anyone who goes against Max is going to get beaten by pure speed'

Much has been said and written about the duel between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen this season. Apart from the fact that the two drivers can finally fight each other on track this season, both second drivers also play an important role. Eddie Irvine, in his time in Formula 1, was also often labeled as the second driver next to the legendary Michael Schumacher.

Second drivers

Irvine is a man who rarely minces words. You either love him or hate him, but he always has something interesting to say. At Betway.com he gave his opinion on the role of the co-drivers at Mercedes and Red Bull. "Bottas has beaten Hamilton before, more often than he has lately. Perez is new in there against Verstappen, but Verstappen has shown that the game is already over. They're both de facto No. 2s."

So despite his opinion that the hierarchy within the teams already seems to be a done deal, no one should be ashamed of it: "I don't think against two guys like Hamilton and Verstappen that's a great negative. I don't think anybody in Formula 1 would go up against those two guys and regularly beat them," Irvine said.

Max's sheer speed

For the ex-Ferrari driver, it's plain as day: "I think Hamilton is getting older now and his pace isn't as good as it used to be, but he's still, as I said, a consummate professional. I think people know that anyone who goes against Verstappen is going to get beaten because of his pure speed."