Why Verstappen is both right and wrong in his bold McLaren and Ferrari claim

Max Verstappen left everyone in no doubt about the perception he has of his own performance level this year after wrapping up his fourth world title in Las Vegas. Amid a campaign where he has battled against not having the fastest car for much of the time, the Dutchman made the suggestion that the championship outcome would have been the same if he had been driving for either of his closest competitors.

Asked by media if he felt he would have come out on top if he had been racing for McLaren, Verstappen said: “Yes, even earlier, so [I would have been] further ahead. [With the Ferrari], pretty much the same, I think. The Mercedes, no. I think that would have been trickier.”