There is no doubt that Max Verstappen is one of the best drivers on the grid in the current era. However, his former teammate, Carlos Sainz Jr., thinks he is much more than that.
Ever since Verstappen made his Formula 1 debut in 2015, he has showcased signs of brilliance. After winning his first title against Lewis Hamilton in 2021, the Dutch driver went on a roll and won 3 more, making it four consecutive Championships. This has led Carlos Sainz Jr. to consider Verstappen among an elite category of F1 drivers.
Carlos Sainz Jr.’s arguable statement on Max Verstappen
Sainz Jr. recently appeared on the High Performance Podcast, where he boldly stated Verstappen’s place in F1 history.
“Max is going to go out to be one of the best ever in history, if he’s not already the best ever in history.”
When we talk about the best F1 drivers in history, the names that come to mind are Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, and Ayrton Senna. Looking at all these drivers, none of them had accomplished what Verstappen has by the age of 27, which is how old he was when he won his 4th Championship.
View this post on Instagram
The only other driver who had won four Championships before turning 27 is Sebastian Vettel. Although he was a great driver, he was not able to find success after winning his last title in 2013. But even Vettel did not show the type of skills Verstappen had been showing in the previous few years.
There is no doubt that Verstappen has the potential to become one of the best drivers in F1 history. However, it doesn’t seem like he wants to be that person. For some time now, the Dutch driver has insisted that he does not want a long career in Formula 1. Instead, he wants to enjoy his family time with his girlfriend, Kelly Piquet, and his newborn daughter, Lily.
Why is Verstappen considered to be the best driver on the grid?
Ever since Verstappen hit his peak, no driver has been able to touch him in equal machinery. Daniel Ricciardo was the last F1 driver to compete against him as a teammate in 2018. After winning his 4th Championship, he has cemented his legacy within the team.
This year, Red Bull has not produced the best car on the grid. Despite this, Verstappen has been staying close enough to the McLarens to remain in contention for the Championship.
🏆 Most Wins Over Last 100 Races
Max Verstappen – 54
Lewis Hamilton – 9
Lando Norris – 8
Oscar Piastri – 7
Charles Leclerc – 6
Sergio Perez – 5
Carlos Sainz – 4
George Russell – 4
Esteban Ocon – 1
Daniel Ricciardo – 1
Valtteri Bottas – 1 pic.twitter.com/8uRKpJTSLe— Daniel Valente 🏎️ (@F1GuyDan) July 11, 2025
Just for context, Red Bull is currently fourth in the Constructors’ Championship, but Verstappen is third in the Drivers’ Championship. This just provides proof that Verstappen can take a poor-performing car and drive around its problems to extract the best performance out of it.
Now, with four titles already in his bag, the only question is how much more he can claim in his career. His current contract with Red Bull Racing lasts until the end of the 2028 season. However, increasingly aggressive rumors have suggested that he could jump ship to Mercedes for the 2026 season. It will be interesting to see how this could affect Verstappen’s future in F1.
