F1 star Max Verstappen 'in same category as Hamilton and Schumacher'

A Formula One expert has argued that Max Verstappen should already be considered one of the top 10 drivers in the history of the sport.

It feels like the Red Bull driver has been around forever, which is remarkable given that he is only 25-years-old.

Since participating in a Formula One weekend for the first time when he was just 17, Verstappen has been crowned F1 world champion twice, in 2021 and 2022.

The Dutch driver got his 2023 season off to the perfect start too, dominating the Bahrain Grand Prix as he led a Red Bull one-two finish.

According to Sky Sports' F1 expert Karun Chandhok, Verstappen should already be considered one of the F1 greats, despite his young age.

"I think it's unfair to try and rank a driver in a list of all-time greats when they're still currently driving but I mean, in terms of outright talented drivers to have driven a Formula One car, I think he's in the Clark, Senna, Schumacher, Hamilton category," Chandhok told GIVEMESPORT.

"It's very hard to say where they rank among the all-time greats, because then you have to define a sign of greatness. There are so many complexities to that sort of ranking.

"There's no doubt in my mind that Max is certainly one of the top 10 most talented though."

However, Chandhok believes that Verstappen doesn't always get judged fairly, despite the countless examples of his ability.

"I don't think he's getting a fair judgement of his talent and abilities. I saw Max first in Formula 3. I remember watching him at a track.

Verstappen will once again be favourite for the title. Image: Alamy

"All these guys went out of the pit lane and you can see everyone building up and getting quicker and quicker. And then there's one car that came through on this first flying lap, and he must have been going 15/20 kph faster than anybody else.

"And you just go like, ‘holy s*** what is happening there? How is this guy holding on?’ It was quite amazing."

Chandhok remembered another time that he was blown away by Verstappen's talent behind the wheel.

"I remember at Barcelona [he was] in the Toro Rosso for preseason testing. I went to watch at turn four and every lap he turned in the back of the car had this like pendulum effect.

"But he just got on throttle and drove out of it. I was thinking ‘there's no way he can do that every lap, it's impossible.’ But he did."

Verstappen will look to make it two race wins from two at the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix this weekend.

Topics: Max Verstappen, Formula 1, Red Bull Racing, Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher

Alex Brotherton

Alex Brotherton is a Sports Trends Writer at SPORTbible. He has previously worked with publications including the Manchester Evening News, GOAL and BBC Sport. He is a football fanatic, but also dabbles in tennis and American football. He enjoys running, cooking and watching non-league football.

@alex_brotherton