McLaren CEO Zak Brown believes that championship rivals Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton will collide at some point this season, and is hoping McLaren can take advantage of such an incident.
The Brit has taken three out of four wins this year and currently has a 14-point advantage in the drivers’ standings.
The pair have overtaken each other at every race this season and have managed to keep things respectful so far.
Brown believes that the current battle is great for the sport, and is also bringing the best out of both drivers.
“I think it’s great for F1; I think it’s a great rivalry,” said Brown, at McLaren’s special Monaco livery unveiling.
“I think Max has got Lewis to step up, not that he needed much stepping up. He’s definitely on his A-Game.
“Lewis is a very smart driver, you can just see him sitting there, waiting to strike, and isn’t overeager, and I think that’s his experience coming through.
“It’s great. Those guys are both on their A-Game.”
Despite the racing being clean so far this year, Brown reckons it’s only a matter of time before there is an incident between Verstappen and Hamilton.
Last season, Sergio Perez and Pierre Gasly were able to capitalise on mistakes by Mercedes to take shock wins in Bahrain and Italy – and Brown is hoping McLaren can perform similar feats this year.
“I think rivalries are great for the sport and having those two guys go at it is good,” he said.
“Hopefully, at some point over the course a year, that creates an opportunity for us.
“Because I think it is just a matter of time until they both are determined to not let up in to turn one and neither come out.”
The next chapter in the fascinating 2021 title battle will be written this weekend as F1 returns to Monaco.
Image credits: formula1.com