Max Verstappen only ‘really rates’ two of his rival Formula 1 drivers

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Max Verstappen no doubt views himself as the best driver on the Formula 1 grid, and most experts would agree with that assessment.

Lewis Hamilton is the only active driver who has been more successful than Verstappen, but he is now 41 years old. Fernando Alonso, the other multiple champion on the grid, will turn 45 this month.

Former Red Bull chief Helmut Marko thinks Verstappen gives a team three tenths per lap on talent alone. While his counterparts may question that estimate, it’s telling that Toto Wolff and Zak Brown have explored moves for the Dutchman despite the strength of their existing line-ups.

Max Verstappen ranks Kimi Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton above other F1 drivers

Speaking on The Race F1 podcast, Viaplay commentator Nelson Valkenburg said Verstappen only sees two drivers as genuine threats – former title rival Hamilton and current championship leader Kimi Antonelli.

Antonelli has been labelled a generational talent and is arguably the most exciting F1 prospect since Verstappen’s emergence around a decade ago.

Discussing a potential Verstappen/Antonelli line-up at Mercedes, Valkenburg said: “There’s so much respect there. If I look at Verstappen there, I think there are two drivers on this grid that he really, really, really rates – alongside himself – and that’s Lewis and Kimi.

“The emergence of Antonelli and the realisation of what Toto Wolff saw earlier might keep Verstappen in F1 longer than he initially anticipated. I think it tickles him completely. He’s dealt with Hamilton, but Hamilton is a little older.

“If I look it at from the outside, I see Verstappen thinking, ‘I have to be at my best every day with this kid’, and that’s a lot of fun. I think it has changed the equation a little bit for him.”

Verstappen has twice battled Lando Norris for the title and ultimately lost out by just two points last year. He claimed that he would have won the championship comfortably had he been driving the McLaren.

Oscar Piastri, Norris’ teammate, had been 104 points clear of Verstappen before unravelling down the stretch.

It has been noted that Verstappen seems to show Charles Leclerc added respect in wheel-to-wheel battles, but Leclerc and Ferrari fluffed their one chance to beat Red Bull in 2022. There remain question marks over whether he will become a true great.

The same can be said for George Russell, who has publicly clashed with Verstappen in the past. Russell has been unconvincing since stepping into the title-contending car he has sought for years.

Verstappen’s admiration for Alonso is obvious, but it’s difficult to gauge the Spaniard’s level given that he has spent so many years in the midfield.