In a uncommon interview, former Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen claimed Max Verstappen is at present the perfect driver on the F1 grid, and it is truthful to say it is triggered fairly the stir amongst GPblog readers.
Talking to Italian outlet Quotidiano Sportivo about whom on the present grid he considers to be the strongest driver, no matter the prowess of the automotive they drive, the 2007 F1 world champion responded: “Verstappen! I noticed him arrive in F1 throughout my second stint at Ferrari. Max is a phenomenon. He received his first race in Spain proper in entrance of me, ten years in the past. That’s once I realised a star was born.”
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It has in reality simply gone 10 years since that very victory in Barcelona, the place the then 18-year-old Verstappen correctly launched himself on the very high of F1. The Dutchman took benefit of a first-lap crash between Mercedes duo and Nico Rosberg to assert his maiden victory within the sport. What’s even higher is that Barcelona 2016 was additionally Verstappen’s first-ever race for Pink Bull, having changed Danii Kyvat in a controversial mid-season driver swap from Pink Bull’s sister group Toro Rosso.
As Raikkonen mentioned, he was proper behind Verstappen throughout his first F1 win. The Pink Bull rookie needed to put up with an terrible lot of stress from the Flying Finn through the closing laps at Barcelona, however didn’t put a foot flawed to turn out to be the first-ever Dutchman to win a Grand Prix.
GPblog readers have their say on Verstappen’s F1 rating
Picture: Pink Bull Content material Pool
Picture: Pink Bull Content material Pool
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With Raikkonen making his views clear on the place Verstappen ranks among the many present grid, it was then put to GPblog readers in a ballot as to the place the four-time world champion sits amongst all of the F1 greats previous and current – High 3, High 5, High 10, or too early to say.
And the readers have had their say, 77.8% consider Verstappen is already inside the High 3 F1 drivers of all time, 12.2% say he’s High 5, 7% argue he’s within the High 10, whereas solely 2% declare it’s nonetheless too early to inform the place 28-year-old is in comparison with different F1 legends.
As ever, there was extra to be mentioned within the feedback, whereas some argued Raikkonen had received his preliminary evaluation spot on, others determined to rank their very own biggest F1 drivers of all time.
Listed below are a few of the feedback from GPblog’s most up-to-date debate:
“Bwoahhhh…What a sensible individual Kimi is!”
“Hamilton, Schumacher, Senna, Clark, Verstappen is the highest 5, by which order is only a matter of style.”
“I agree with that high 5, solely I’d substitute Clark with Fangio.”
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Picture: Race Footage
Picture: Race Footage
In the meantime, one other F1 nice, seven time world champion Lewis Hamilton, has with new race engineer Carlo Santi after his P2 end Canadian GP.
Changing Riccardo Adami as Hamilton’s race engineer, initially on an interim foundation, Santi has proved to be a key motive why the Briton seems to be again to his finest in 2026. Hamilton mentioned to media, together with GPblog: “I selected a distinct set-up this weekend via simply ciphering via the info, working very well with my engineer.
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“He’s completely superior and I’m actually loving working with him. And my quantity two did a implausible job this weekend and helped me actually pull extra efficiency out of the automotive, getting right into a a lot sweeter place.
“And I used to be capable of assault all of the corners lastly. And as I mentioned, there’s a whole lot of modifications that I’ve needed to ask for, and Fred’s been tremendous supportive and once more additionally transferring mountains with a purpose to make me snug. It’s lastly beginning to present in my efficiency. So, thanks to the group.”
