Jackie Stewart believes that Lewis Hamilton no longer has the hunger to beat Max Verstappen to future Drivers’ Championship titles.

The legendary Scot also pointed to Mercedes’ lack of pace as another pressing issue for Hamilton, who recently signed a two-year contract extension with the Silver Arrows.

“First of all, Lewis is one of the best to ever drive in Formula One, but in the last decade he competed with Mercedes for a team that was virtually out of competition,” Stewart told Bild.

“During this time, Lewis only had one real competitor, his respective team-mate. Except for 2016, he always emerged victorious from the duel, and then he lost to Nico Rosberg. With respect, [Rosberg is] a good driver, but not the most talented in the world.

“Rosberg was hungry and had the absolute will to become world champion. Lewis no longer has that hunger. Because of that, and because the car is no longer quite as powerful, he has serious problems.”