Karun Chandhok explains why he still can’t rank Max Verstappen as one of F1’s top five drivers

Follow us on Google Discover

Max Verstappen has won the last four world championships and isn’t completely out of the running for a fifth. But Karun Chandhok isn’t yet willing to call him one of the top five F1 drivers ever.

Only Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton and Juan Manuel Fangio have won more titles than Verstappen. The Dutchman only turned 28 on Monday.

Verstappen may not reach Hamilton’s records, but only because his appetite to continue in F1 long-term is in question. A GT3 victory at the Nurburgring on a weekend off may strengthen his desire to compete in other series.

His F1 win in Azerbaijan was the 66th of his career, inching him closer to Schumacher in second (91). He’s also scored 46 pole positions (fifth all-time), and is two podiums away from equalling Sebastian Vettel in third.

Karun Chandhok says Max Verstappen should be judged after he retires

During an ‘Ask Me Anything’ feature on the Formula1SG subreddit, ex-driver and Sky Sports pundit Karun Chandhok was asked about his F1 ‘Mount Rushmore’.

He couldn’t narrow it down to just four drivers, so instead listed his top five up to this point. Schumacher and Hamilton both feature, as do Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost.

Jim Clark is a slightly more surprising inclusion because he only won two titles, but a fatal accident at the age of 32 cut an iconic career short.

Verstappen doesn’t make the cut yet because Chandhok wants to judge him at the end of his career. Hamilton hasn’t retired yet, but demands a place on the basis of being the most successful driver ever.

Chandhok wrote: “Oooh – good question! Jim Clark, Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, Schumacher and Lewis were my top 5 but we need to judge Max after he has finished his career.”

Who partners Max Verstappen in Karun Chandhok’s 2025 F1 dream team?

When asked to pick two current drivers for a fantasy line-up, Chandhok simply had to select Verstappen. Though he’s 69 points off the championship lead, he’s arguably been the standout performer on the grid.

Chandhok would partner Verstappen with Piastri if he were a team boss. This symbolically indicates that Hamilton’s spell as F1’s top driver may be over.

Verstappen could strengthen his legacy by winning in other series. His dominant victory on Saturday was an ominous sign of what he may be able to achieve.

Come 2026, Verstappen’s Plan A is to race in the Nurburgring 24 Hours. Le Mans surely beckons at some stage.