The 2009 Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button has no doubts: in his view, Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen is the most complete driver in the history of Formula 1.
Looking back over 75 years of Formula 1 history, it remains incredibly difficult to determine who is the most talented and complete driver of all time. The evolution of technology, car design, and the changing nature of racing across the decades makes direct comparisons extremely complex. Despite that, one former Formula 1 World Champion has shared his firm opinion on the subject—Jenson Button, the Briton who claimed the 2009 title.
Speaking on The Chris Moyles Show podcast, Button drew a direct comparison between one of his former teammates—Lewis Hamilton, who holds the joint record for most world titles alongside Michael Schumacher—and Max Verstappen, who has now won four consecutive world championships with Red Bull Racing.
“I was never arrogant or full of myself, because I just wasn’t as good as Lewis,” Jenson Button began jokingly, before offering a more serious assessment. “Lewis Hamilton is not like that at all. I was his teammate for three years, and the natural talent and ability he has is just incredible. There were times when he struggled during practice sessions, and I’d think to myself, ‘Right, I’ve got him this time—he’s beatable.’ But then, come qualifying, suddenly—bang!—he’d pull out an unbelievable lap from nowhere. I still don’t know where he pulled it from.”
Button went on to say that while Lewis Hamilton is clearly one of the greatest drivers in the sport’s history, he believes Max Verstappen has something even more special. “Lewis is extremely talented, and with the career he’s had, I’m not sure anyone will ever surpass some of the records he’s set. But the more I think about it, the more I feel that Max Verstappen can do more with any car than anyone else. Max is the most complete Formula 1 driver of all time. Sure, he hasn’t yet won as many titles as Lewis Hamilton, and I do believe Lewis is still one of the greatest ever—but Max can make a car do things that no one else can.”
Jenson Button, who recently confirmed that he will retire from the World Endurance Championship (WEC) at the end of the current season, also revealed that he did not particularly miss Formula 1 once he stepped away from the paddock and full-time racing.
“In the first year after retiring, I thought, ‘This is great,’” Button explained. “I had time to do my own thing, enjoy life a bit more. But after about six months, I started thinking, ‘I really want to drive something again.’ So I began racing in a wide variety of cars all over the world. This year, I even competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. I’ve had so much fun after Formula 1—I’ve always considered myself a racing driver in the broader sense, not just a Formula 1 driver. So yes, I did miss it a bit, but now I really enjoy just watching the sport.”
The former McLaren, Brawn GP, and Honda driver concluded by expressing his appreciation for the way Formula 1 has grown in recent years. “I’ve loved this sport ever since I was eight years old. Watching it grow, seeing more and more people getting involved—it’s just amazing. Formula 1 keeps growing, and I love being a fan of it now.”
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