With just six races remaining in the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship, Max Verstappen is still lurking in the title fight. Despite McLaren’s dominance this season, the Dutchman has managed to close the gap and continues to earn high praise from some of the sport’s most respected figures.
Luca di Montezemolo has described him as “by far number one,” Bernie Ecclestone places him ahead of Oscar Piastri, and David Coulthard has highlighted his sensitivity behind the wheel and his mental strength. Verstappen refuses to give up and, according to many experts, remains the most complete driver on the current F1 grid.
Three paddock icons speak about Verstappen
There’s one thing everyone agrees on — Max Verstappen’s extraordinary driving ability. The wave of admiration shows no signs of slowing down, especially this year, given that Red Bull’s RB21 is no longer the most dominant car on the grid. Among those convinced that Verstappen stands above all others is Luca di Montezemolo, the former Ferrari president, who didn’t hold back when praising the four-time world champion.
Montezemolo stated that, in his view, Verstappen is “by a wide margin the number one” in Formula 1 today. He emphasized Max’s ability to remain calm and fast in any situation, avoiding mistakes even under pressure — qualities he displayed from a young age. “Even as a 13-year-old in karts, he was incredible — super strong, super focused,” Luca di Montezemolo recalled. “Verstappen is, in my opinion, the best driver right now. By far.”
Ecclestone’s view: Piastri is great, but Verstappen is better
Another iconic voice in Formula 1, Bernie Ecclestone, also shared his opinion on who currently leads the field. The former F1 supremo praised McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who leads the championship standings, but still placed him behind Verstappen in terms of pure skill and mindset.
“He’s doing a great job,” Ecclestone said about Piastri. “When he makes mistakes, he admits them. He doesn’t blame others or make excuses, and he makes sure not to repeat them. But still, he’s the best driver after Verstappen.”
Coulthard highlights Verstappen’s mental and technical brilliance
Adding to the chorus of praise was former Formula 1 driver David Coulthard, who explained what fascinates him most about Verstappen’s driving approach and mentality.
“He’s extraordinary,” Coulthard said. “Throughout F1 history, we’ve seen many exceptional drivers, but Max seems to visualize grip before anyone else can even feel it. He’s adapted remarkably well this season from a mental standpoint. He’s accepted that he probably won’t win the championship this time, but he seems at peace with that.”
Coulthard also noted that Verstappen appears satisfied with the car’s progress after a difficult start to the season. “At the beginning of the year, he wasn’t happy at all. It looked like the team wasn’t making any progress,” he added. “But that’s what a real racing driver wants — to be part of the development process. And it’s clear that Max is now getting closer and closer to fighting for wins again.”
Verstappen, the benchmark for modern F1
Montezemolo, Coulthard, and Ecclestone have all effectively “crowned” Max Verstappen as the best driver currently in Formula 1 — and notably, he’s doing it without having the best car. This only underlines the Dutchman’s extraordinary talent. Having learned from the crashes and aggressive tendencies of his early years, Verstappen has matured into a driver with unique sensitivity and precision that no one else on the grid can match.
Whether he manages to catch McLaren in the final races or not, Verstappen’s consistency, adaptability, and ability to extract performance in any condition continue to set the standard for what it means to be a complete Formula 1 driver.
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