In 2015, former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone named Lewis Hamilton the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) in Formula 1. However, with Max Verstappen dominating in recent years, Ecclestone reconsidered his decision, and he snubbed the seven-time champion in favor of Verstappen. Meanwhile, Ecclestone believes Verstappen is the best driver in F1 history.
Verstappen’s consistent and solid performance on the track is nothing short of impressive. It’s a matter of time before he’s got his third championship trophy on the shelf. With 92 podiums in 179 grand prix (51%) and a total of 48 races won, Verstappen has already etched his name among the greatest drivers of all time.
Max Verstappen’s dominance in Formula One has been a hot topic of discussion, with some fans and pundits saying it makes the sport less exciting. After Red Bull lost in Singapore, many speculated that this could be the beginning of the end of the team’s dominance. But Verstappen quickly proved them wrong, bouncing back to win the next race.
Ecclestone hails Verstappen as the GOAT
Bernie Ecclestone, the former CEO of Formula One, has endorsed Max Verstappen as the greatest driver of all time. Ecclestone, who previously named Alain Prost the GOAT, now believes that Verstappen has surpassed even the four-time champion.
⚠️ | Max Verstappen Is the ‘Best Driver Ever’ And Lewis Hamilton is ‘Super-Super Bright’ Says Ex-F1 Boss Bernie Ecclestone
“Max is the best driver ever. No doubts, I used to say Alain Prost. Now I would say Max. He’s the greatest. He is brightest with regards to getting the best… pic.twitter.com/Y0gdWRE90l
— el Formula (@elFormulaOne) September 22, 2023
Previously, Ecclestone had labeled Alain Prost the GOAT, but now he thinks Verstappen is more than the four-time winner. Ecclestone praises Verstappen’s ability to extract quality performance from his car, unwavering focus, and ability to remain calm under pressure.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Ecclestone declared, “Max is the best driver ever, there is no doubt about it. Before, I indicated Alain Prost; now, I would say Max instead. He is the greatest, the best at getting the best out of his car; he never gets confused and is always focused.”
Is Verstappen the best ever?
Ecclestone, now 92, went on to compare Verstappen with Lewis Hamilton, another titan of the sport. Ecclestone said Verstappen is above Hamilton. The Briton has exceptional talent and the ability to showcase the best of people. However, Verstappen excels at getting more power out of his car.
Ecclestone stated, “In my personal ranking, he is also higher than Hamilton. Lewis is obviously super bright and super talented; he knows how to understand people and bring the best out of them, while Max knows how to bring the best out of the car. They are two very different people. When Lewis retires, he will be able to dedicate himself to other things, entertainment, for example, but it will not be the path that Max will follow.”
The 92-year-old predicts that when Hamilton retires, he will venture into other projects, such as in the entertainment industry. However, Verstappen’s path lies only in the world of Formula 1, he believes.
