Verstappen convinced he can put one over on Hamilton

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He may still be a teenager, but Max Verstappen doesn't have any inhibitions about going wheel-to-wheel with anyone in F1, including Lewis Hamilton.

But don't confuse his proclaimed self-confidence with a proud or chesty attitude, for Max simply knows better than anyone, and trusts implicitly, the depth and caliber of his natural skills and ability.

Could he beat Lewis Hamilton in the same car, on equal footing?

"Probably I will sound really arrogant, but for sure," quipped Verstappen in an interview with the BBC ahead of this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix.

The young Dutch prodigy's ultimate target is to become Formula 1's master, but that's a tall order which a few of his rivals won't let through easily.

"Of course that's the target. But it is really involved with how good the car is - I am 100% sure that if I had the same car as Lewis and Seb for sure I would be challenging them really hard.

"You have to believe in yourself. With the results I have had, or in the wet, or even in the dry, some races with a car that is not as good, to be able to be that close or reality fight for it, I am 100% sure if I had the same car, I can do it."

Red Bull still banking on 'different' design approach

Verstappen admits however that one's ambition is just a theoretical plan, and one which doesn't always unfold accordingly.

"It's not always in your hands," he says with a bit of realism.

"You need to be in the right team at the right time and hope they keep up as well.

"As long as you try to be the best you can, the fittest you are, that's also already a great achievement.

"At the end of my career if I didn't win a championship but I was still very competitive and was always up there and tried to extract the best out of myself, I can be happy with that as well."

GALLERY: All the pictures from Thursday in Bahrain

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.