Jacques Villeneuve: “In Senna’s era, there were five drivers like Max Verstappen each year”. Jacques Villeneuve says Max Verstappen is not stronger than the legends of the past.

According to Jacques Villeneuve, the overall level of Formula 1 has dropped, and for the Canadian, Max Verstappen is the only driver who truly stands out

The Verstappen era
Like in all sports, Formula 1 is defined by eras. These eras are shaped by drivers and teams, and despite the challenges Verstappen has faced in recent Grands Prix, he remains the benchmark on the grid. Evidence of his standing is clear: top teams are reportedly willing to spend enormous sums to secure the four-time world champion for the 2027 season.

The 2025 season has not been particularly kind to the Dutch driver, yet he has made a mark in the few occasions where the circuit layout, specific incidents, and his car allowed him to contend for significant results—most notably at Suzuka and Imola. If, “only” after the summer break, we can reasonably predict that the Drivers’ Championship will be a duel involving McLaren, the credit is entirely Max’s. He is the only non-McLaren driver to have won at least two Grands Prix this season, underlining his continued ability to deliver exceptional performances.

Jacques Villeneuve’s perspective
During the peak dominance of Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton, it was clear that Verstappen would become the future of Formula 1, having won on his debut in a competitive car. Today, however, it is much harder to predict who might become the “next Super Max.” This is partly because several drivers of the same generation—George Russell, Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris—are still fighting to establish themselves definitively, and partly because, with the exception of Oscar Piastri, many of the younger drivers have yet to fully bloom.

According to Jacques Villeneuve, one of the issues in contemporary F1 is Verstappen’s relative isolation: “If we look at the past, in the era of Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost, every year there were five drivers like Max,” the 1997 world champion told RacingNews365. “Max is not stronger than the greats of the past, but right now he is alone, so he stands out and makes a difference.”

“He is a pure driver, and there aren’t many like him anymore,” the Canadian added. “Today, there are many good drivers, whereas before there were a few very strong drivers and a larger group of good drivers. The whole hierarchy has changed.”

In essence, Jacques Villeneuve emphasizes that Max Verstappen’s brilliance is partly a reflection of the current grid’s depth and composition. While he may not surpass the legendary figures of F1 history in terms of raw talent, his ability to consistently deliver exceptional results in today’s field makes him a standout and underscores why teams and fans continue to see him as a defining figure of this era.