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Brundle takes Jos Verstappen to the task over Hamilton claim

Jos Verstappen believes Lewis Hamilton owes his 2018 title to the fact that he was entrusted with the best car, but Martin Bundle picked apart the former F1 driver's claim.

Hamilton conquered his fifth world crown this season, matching the milestone performance first achieved by the great Juan Manuel Fangio.

With an over 50 percent win rate, the Mercedes driver collected 11 wins in 2018, outpacing arch-rival Sebastian Vettel in the second half of the year.

'Max is using his head more', says Jos Verstappen

However in the eyes of Max Verstappen's father, Hamilton prevailed mainly thanks to the superiority of his car which allowed him to regularly launch his races from pole position.

"Looking at Hamilton, he starts from pole and then wins the race, you don’t need to take such risks," contended Jos Verstappen.

"Then it’s easily said that you are the better driver. For sure he also has the better car."

Sky F1 pundit Martin Brundle dismissed his former colleague's simplistic view, and backed up his rebuke with a few solid arguments.

"Lewis has been outstanding this year and it does, in fact, appear that he keeps getting even better," Brundle wrote in his post-season driver review for Sky.

"He's aced the crossover between experience, speed, fitness, bravery, technical knowledge, patience and politics.

"The right man won the championship. People say he's got the best car, but then so has Valtteri Bottas and so did Nico Rosberg. Lewis remains the man to beat."

However, according to Hamilton himself, Max Verstappen will definitely be a force to be reckoned with in 2019.

"Max has been driving very well throughout the year and has shown his consistency and has been up here many, many times with us," said the Brit.

"So, if his team does the job and delivers a platform with which he can compete even closer with us, then of course he'll be in the fight."

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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.