22 May 2023 , 19:35
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A former Formula 1 star declared only one driver can be compared to what Max Verstappen has achieved – and it isn't Lewis Hamilton.
The Red Bull racer beat his Mercedes rival to the 2021 title and has been in a league of his own ever since. Ferrari threatened a close fight for the title last year but fell away as they suffered reliability problems and made several costly strategy blunders.
And this year the gap between the top team and their rivals looks to be even greater. Only team-mate Sergio Perez looks to be in a position to stop Verstappen this year – if he can match the Dutchman over the course of a full campaign.
Giancarlo Fisichella thinks fans will have to get used to seeing Verstappen on the top step of podiums over the next few years. Writing for Gazzetta dello Sport, the former Ferrari, Jordan and Renault driver hailed the 25-year-old's achievements.
"I fear Max is set to dominate for a long time if the partnership with Red Bull remains so strong," wrote the Italian. "After all, Verstappen has been a talent ever since he raced in karts. He arrived in Formula 1 at 17 and won his first grand prix as soon as he moved from Toro Rosso to Red Bull, at 18 years and seven months.
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"What do you want to say to someone like that? At the beginning he crashed, he made some mistakes of inexperience, while now he's almost never wrong. He has acquired an incredible consistency of performance, eliminating the weak points. He goes fast in the wet, in the dry, in the flying qualifying lap and in the race. He is complete."
Fisichella believes only Leclerc can match Verstappen for precocity (AFP via Getty Images)What stands out to Fisichella the most is the face Verstappen has achieved so much while still having many years ahead of him in F1. In that regard, he feels there is only one other racer on the grid who can match him.
He added: "If we talk about precocity, considering what he has done and is doing at his age, he is even ahead of the greats of the past who preceded him. Only Charles Leclerc can be compared to him in this respect. And in any case, a driver like Verstappen is born once every 20 years."
Fisichella's claim comes after former Renault team principal Cyril Abiteboul overlooked both Hamilton and Verstappen to select Fernando Alonso as the "most complete" driver on the grid. "It is a joy to see him back at the top of Formula 1," said the Frenchman of the Aston Martin racer.