During a guest appearance on The Chris Moyles Show on Radio X, 2009 Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button weighed in on one of the sport’s most debated questions: who is the most complete Formula 1 driver of all time? And the British driver did not hesitate with his answer.
Jenson Button: “He does things no one else can do”
Jenson Button began by commenting on two of today’s top contenders in the 2025 Formula 1 season—Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri—who are currently fighting each other for the world championship title. Button offered praise for both McLaren drivers, acknowledging their high level of performance while also highlighting the differences in their personalities and racing temperaments:
“I think both Lando and Oscar are performing at an incredibly high level,” Button said. “They have very different personalities. I believe that Lando Norris can sometimes be his own worst enemy. He’s incredibly fast, but when he makes even a small mistake, I think he tends to overthink it. Oscar Piastri, on the other hand, is very calm and balanced. He just wants to go out there, race, and drive fast—and he does that extremely well.”
Button names Max Verstappen as the most complete driver ever
After discussing Norris and Piastri, Jenson Button shifted the focus to Red Bull Racing’s reigning three-time World Champion Max Verstappen, praising his unique capabilities behind the wheel. Despite Verstappen not yet matching the championship tally of Lewis Hamilton, Button had no doubts about who stands at the top in terms of overall ability:
“What can I say about Max… I think he is the most complete Formula 1 driver there has ever been,” Button stated unequivocally. “I know he hasn’t won as many world titles as Lewis [Hamilton], and obviously I think Lewis is incredibly talented—one of the greatest drivers the sport has ever seen. But there’s just something about Max Verstappen that allows him to do things with a Formula 1 car that no one else on the grid can do.”
Button’s comments underline a growing sentiment in the paddock and among former drivers and experts who see Max Verstappen not just as a dominant force of his generation, but potentially as one of the most naturally gifted and technically complete drivers in the history of the sport.
Recalling life alongside Hamilton at McLaren
Jenson Button also took a moment to reflect on his time as teammates with Lewis Hamilton during their years together at the McLaren Formula 1 team, from 2010 to 2012. The British duo formed one of the strongest driver pairings of that era, and Button shared insights into Hamilton’s extraordinary natural ability:
“I was his teammate for three years, and his talent, his natural skill, was just unbelievable,” Button said. “Sometimes he’d struggle a bit during free practice, and I’d start to think, ‘Alright, I’ve got him. I’ve beaten him this weekend.’ Then, come qualifying, boom—he’d beat me out of nowhere. It was as if his performance came from someplace unknown.”
Button went on to say, “Lewis Hamilton has extreme talent, and of course, the career he’s had speaks for itself. I honestly don’t think anyone is going to break all of the records he’s set in Formula 1.”
But Verstappen still stands apart in Button’s eyes
Despite his admiration for Lewis Hamilton’s remarkable achievements and raw speed, Jenson Button closed his interview by once again emphasizing his belief that Max Verstappen possesses a rare level of control and adaptability in a Formula 1 car that sets him apart from all others:
“Looking at the way things stand today, I still think Max Verstappen is the driver who can do more with a car than anyone else,” Button concluded.
The debate over who is the greatest Formula 1 driver of all time continues to divide fans and experts alike. But for a former World Champion like Jenson Button—who has shared the track with both Hamilton and Verstappen—there’s little doubt that Max Verstappen is redefining what it means to be the complete F1 driver.
Leave a Reply