Lando Norris chooses the ‘best ever’ F1 driver after racing against Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton

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Max Verstappen’s case to be considered the greatest Formula 1 driver is growing all the time. He may not have the numbers on his side yet, but he’s a long way from the end of his career.

Only three drivers in F1 history – Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher (seven apiece) and Juan Manuel Fangio (five) – have won more championships than Verstappen. He’s still not out of contention this year either.

A fifth title would equal Schumacher’s record streak from 2000 to 2004. It would also surely be his most impressive yet given McLaren’s clear pace advantage.

The Woking outfit will almost certainly seal the constructors’ title this weekend with six races to spare. Verstappen’s teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, is 17th in the standings, and while he’s only recently moved onto an equal spec, the F1 paddock is still in awe of the reigning champion for sticking within 69 points of the McLarens.

Lando Norris says Max Verstappen is ‘probably’ the best F1 driver ever

Speaking to The Times at the Singapore GP, Lando Norris underlined his immense ‘respect’ for Verstappen. Not for the first time, he talked about striving to reach the Dutchman’s level.

While he places Verstappen and Hamilton in the same bracket as two ‘greats’ of the sport, Norris is leaning towards the former in the F1 ‘GOAT’ conversation.

Hamilton’s reputation may have somewhat suffered during the ground-effect era, where he has largely struggled relative to his previous heights. With Charles Leclerc 44 points ahead, he’s likely to finish behind his teammate for the third time in four seasons.

Norris says Hamilton’s 2021 title rival was ‘born into an F1 seat’ given that his father Jos raced in the sport. Verstappen also trained with Michael Schumacher as a child.

“[Max] is probably the best ever in Formula 1,” said Norris. “There is respect for him and I have always said that. I have a lot of respect for what he is capable of doing and everyone is trying to be at the level he is at every weekend.

“He still makes mistakes and there are races where he could have done better. He is maybe the best driver ever, up there with the greats of Lewis Hamilton, the guys in the past, and it is hard to beat someone who was born into an F1 seat.”

Is this the one driver Max Verstappen can’t bully?

The circumstances of Verstappen’s first title – Ted Kravitz said Lewis Hamilton was ‘robbed’ – may have fed into a villainous persona. But there are signs that the Red Bull driver’s popularity is growing.

Verstappen was cheered and serenaded after winning the two Italian races this year, having previously been booed by the Tifosi.

In a recent poll, Verstappen was also voted one of F1’s most popular drivers. The dominant figure is often divisive, but there may be more appreciation for his talents now that he’s an underdog.

Isack Hadjar has called him the ‘boss’ in wheel-to-wheel situations, suggesting that he makes other drivers miserable. In his eyes, Verstappen only shows true ‘respect’ to Charles Leclerc, his former karting adversary.