Martin Brundle’s ‘honest’ 2023 verdict on Max Verstappen has now been brilliantly proven right

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Max Verstappen has been one of the most polarising figures on the F1 grid since his introduction to the sport in 2015, but Martin Brundle’s past verdict on the Dutchman was proven right during the 2025 campaign.

After a relatively difficult start to the recently concluded Formula 1 season, Max Verstappen proved to be a thorn in the side of McLaren in their hunt for a first drivers’ title since 2008.

The RB21 started off as a tame successor to Red Bull’s previous championship-winning challengers, but their decision to continue upgrading the car into the latter stages of the season offered the Dutchman a lifeline in his desire to defend his title for a fourth consecutive season.

F1 fans had grown tired of McLaren’s dominance, and in turn, Verstappen offered them an alternative to the continual presence of papaya on the top step of the podium.

• READ MORE: Simon Lazenby reveals what ‘you don’t see’ with Max Verstappen that makes him so well respected in F1

Martin Brundle’s ‘honest’ verdict of Max Verstappen has been proved right during 2025

During Martin Brundle’s grid walk during Sky Sports F1’s coverage of the 2023 British Grand Prix, the legendary pundit was on the hunt for some comments from a couple of drivers on the grid before the race got underway.

The only man he could find was the reigning world champion at the time, who gave him some words before he had to join the rest of his rivals in attendance of the national anthem.

After Verstappen walked out of the shot, Brundle praised the Dutchman for lending him some of his time, saying (09/07/23 14:45), “It was good of the pole sitter to stop and have a chat, he’s always calm.

“You know what, I know that with some people he’s not always the most popular driver, Max, but of all the drivers on the grid, he’s the one I’d want to go out for a beer with.

“I find him extremely straightforward and an honest lad, to be honest.

“I know some of you have a different view to that, and that’s the wonderful thing about sport: there’s no right and wrong opinion. Your opinion is bound to be right because that’s what you think.”

After the 28-year-old’s win at the recent Las Vegas Grand Prix, Brundle’s opinion had seemingly rung true after Jenson Button noted how popular Verstappen has become after seeing the majority of fans cheering for him in his title fight against the McLaren duo.

• READ MORE: Martin Brundle has seen a vital change in Max Verstappen ever since Red Bull sacked Christian Horner

Many figures within the F1 paddock have seen a shift in the narrative surrounding Max Verstappen

The 2009 world champion isn’t the only figure within the world of Formula 1 who has seen the Dutchman’s popularity skyrocket following the emergence of McLaren as the dominant constructor.

Verstappen has been a crucial part of Red Bull’s marketing drive ever since he joined F1 as a wide-eyed 17-year-old, even more so now through his rising favour.

His influence in that side of things is now clear, and the fact that he is a Dutch world champion, the only title-winner from the Netherlands, for that matter, has seen him be thrust into the spotlight as a national hero.

Similar to Button’s verdict, Juan Pablo Montoya believes Red Bull’s diminishing dominance played a part in Verstappen’s popularity.

The 28-year-old was often portrayed as the villain through his aggressive driving style and sheer formidable record, but that narrative has now switched given he isn’t the one beating everyone else’s favourite driver.