Berger on Hamilton's rivals: 'That's why Verstappen is easier than Rosberg'

This season, Lewis Hamilton will be truly challenged in the battle for the championship for the first time since 2016. After six races Max Verstappen is in the lead, with a minimal difference to the seven-time world champion. After Baku, the championship should have looked different, but a crash and a mistake allowed the midfield to take advantage.

Hamilton's mistake was particularly unusual and he threw away the chance of taking over the lead from the Dutchman. According to Gerhard Berger, the Briton is allowed to make mistakes, as long as he stays in the title race. "In Baku, he knew he had to put everything on the line at the last start to win and that's where it just went wrong. That can happen," explained Berger in conversation with Sport1.

Easier to drive against Verstappen

"It's particularly interesting that Mercedes are weakening under the pressure of Red Bull. Then there's Ferrari joining them, or McLaren doing a great job with Norris. Even Gasly with his AlphaTauri could be up at the front. That is exactly the kind of excitement that Formula 1and the fans need. In the past three Grands Prix, eight different drivers have been on the podium. Only Verstappen was on the podium twice, in Barcelona and Monaco.

For Hamilton, Barcelona was the last time he was on the podium, along with Valtteri Bottas. The Finnish driver replaced Nico Rosberg, Hamilton's last real rival. According to Berger, there are differences between Hamilton's rivalries though. "It's a lot easier for him to race against Max," he said.

"He's always a bit behind you because he's in a different car. When you get beaten in the same team, it still feels like an insult," Berger concluded.