Verstappen ALREADY hailed as F1 GOAT by former driver
Verstappen ALREADY hailed as F1 GOAT by former driver
Former Formula 1 race winner Johnny Herbert has already dubbed Max Verstappen as "one of the best we've seen" after the two-time world champion claimed his first win at the Australian Grand Prix, despite all the mayhem in Melbourne.
With back-to-back world championships, Verstappen has been wiping the floor with the competition and looks to be the heavy favourite to grab his third in the 2023 season.
Herbert admits that it's difficult to compare drivers from different eras of motorsport, however, the TV pundit believes the Dutchman's consistency and lack of mistakes, puts him in the running for the greatest of all-time debate.
"It's hard but for me already he is one of the best we've seen," he said to GIVEMESPORT.
"Because I think, for me it's always about consistency, and he does not make mistakes.
"There was always the talk before he won his first world championship that this guy is the next big thing.
"So it was almost like there was always an understanding anyway, that this guy's pretty hot and pretty special.
"Now he's achieved two titles I think he's already there as one of the best we've seen."
Verstappen's 'wow factor'
Herbert opened up on how Verstappen brings a 'wow factor' to the sport and how it reminds him of Lewis Hamilton just a few years ago.
"I always enjoy watching him today, and I always get wowed at what he does today," he said.
"Just as I got wowed by what Lewis [Hamilton] did only a couple of years ago, it hasn't finished for him yet, but there was a wow factor to him."
The Brit also explained how although the Red Bull star's driving style isn't for everyone, it shouldn't matter because of his "unbelievable" ability.
"Whatever you think of Max with his elbows out type of racing, that's part and parcel of racing to be perfectly honest," said Herbert.
"It's not my style but that really doesn't matter. Because what he actually does with a racing car sometimes is pretty unbelievable.
"I enjoy what he's doing at the present time but where he is in the pecking order is a hard one because the times are so much different than what they were."
Verstappen currently boasts a 15-point lead in the drivers' standings heading into the three-week break. Red Bull will be looking to continue their dominance when F1 heads back to Baku for the Azerbaijani Grand Prix.
READ MORE: Jos Verstappen: His life in F1 and how he drove Max to greatness
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F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
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