Jenson Button has proposed the idea that Lewis Hamilton, the Mercedes driver, might contend for the world championship against Max Verstappen next year.
Max Verstappen is the clear frontrunner to secure additional titles next year, given Red Bull’s dominance in the past two seasons. Despite this, Jenson Button, in an interview with France24, suggests that if Mercedes can optimize their car’s performance, Lewis Hamilton stands a good chance of challenging Verstappen. Red Bull’s team principal, Christian Horner, has acknowledged the challenges of enhancing the RB19, and the current regulations limit significant improvements.
While Mercedes pursued a distinct development path in 2023, resulting in struggles, Button believes Hamilton could compete for the championship in 2024 with a competitive car. The task ahead for the team’s engineers is formidable, particularly considering the discontent Toto Wolff and Hamilton expressed about the W14. However, historical precedents, such as Aston Martin and McLaren’s substantial improvements last season, suggest that significant progress is possible with the right upgrades.
