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Ayrton Senna is widely regarded as one of the greatest Formula 1 drivers in history, but one of his former rivals thinks Max Verstappen should be placed above him in the all-time list.
Before his untimely death at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, Ayrton Senna was already a global superstar with three world titles to his name.
Known for his exceptional one-lap pace and a mastery of whatever weather conditions were thrown at him, the Brazilian was also one of the most enigmatic figures on the grid when he took to the track.
Max Verstappen has attracted Senna comparisons in the past due to his own attributes that see him outclass his rivals on a weekly basis.
The latest to make that comparison is Marc Surer, who shared the track with the late and great Brazilian driver during the early stages of his career.
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Marc Surer believes Max Verstappen should be above Ayrton Senna in the F1 GOAT list
During an interview with Formel1.de, Surer was asked where the four-time world champion currently stands in his all-time list after yet another season in which he has challenged for the title.
The 74-year-old said, “After Ayrton Senna, he is the best I have ever seen. I raced against Ayrton Senna, and I believe that Max [Verstappen] even takes it a step further by learning from it.
In terms of talent and also in terms of uncompromisingness, he was like Ayrton. He held on and was so connected to the sport, which I also see in Max Verstappen.
“But Max has learned a lot, and that surprised me because at the beginning he was indeed out there with a crowbar. But then he learned.
“And I believe that’s why you even have to put him above Ayrton Senna. I think he is the best for me that I have ever seen.”
A former teammate of the Brazilian’s shares a similar sentiment. Gerhard Berger believes Verstappen has now leapfrogged Senna in the greatest of all time rankings due to the hard work that the Dutchman puts in behind the scenes on the simulator.
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Marc Surer doesn’t think Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are quite on the same level as Max Verstappen just yet
Continuing in his interview with Formel1.de, the former Formula 1 man was asked why he didn’t give Lando Norris a higher rating despite the fact that he was the driver to claim the title in Abu Dhabi.
The Swiss said, “Well, they had the best car, and so one had high expectations, of course. I’m glad there were two of them, because otherwise it would have been easy.
“They took away each other’s points, and McLaren played fairly, one must also say. Maybe sometimes too fairly, when I think of Monza.
“But basically, I have to say, the two are good, but they do not have the level that Vettel once had, that Hamilton had, and that Max Verstappen has now.”
Oscar Piastri has been tipped to be a future world champion by multiple figures within the F1 paddock, and he too has drawn comparisons to Verstappen in the past.
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