"Phenomenal" Max Verstappen would be beating Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, Nico Rosberg believes.
The Dutchman scored his second win in three races this past weekend at Hockenheim, capitalising on an off day for the world champion as a mistake saw him drop out of an early lead.
A stat posted on the Formula 1 Twitter page revealed the Red Bull driver has now finished in the top five in the past 20 races, stretching back to last year's Belgian Grand Prix, and it is that consistency which has most impressed the 2016 world champion.
“Verstappen would be in front of Hamilton in the championship points if he was in a Mercedes,” he said in a YouTube vlog.
“He has just done a phenomenal season. Verstappen at the moment is the best driver out there.
“Proper impressive stuff, the whole of Holland is going nuts and we all love watching him because Verstappen is so damn exciting.”
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Specifically on Hockenheim, Rosberg noted how his latest success has certainly opened up the chance of catching at least Mercedes in the championship despite all their domination.
“Verstappen had a huge race pace, did everything well and fully deserved this victory,” the German stated.
“It is already his second win of the season. He is only 22 points from Bottas only in a Mercedes car.
“He is well in front of the Ferrari guys, who definitely have a better car on average than Verstappen this year.
“It is unbelievable, he is really nailed this season and is only 61 points behind Lewis even at the moment.
“That is pretty damn impressive halfway through the season.”
