Max Verstappen overlooks McLaren duo as he names his pick for best Formula 1 driver

Speaking with Mundo Deportivo, Verstappen was asked to pick out which of his fellow drivers he rated highest in a few different areas.

When asked who stands out most in qualifying, Verstappen replied: “Gosh, that’s difficult, but I think currently… I’ve always considered Charles Leclerc to be a very good driver in qualifying.”

Verstappen also noted that Leclerc is “good at overtaking” when the conversation turned to which driver excels most at moving through the field.

When asked who the best racer was, Verstappen replied: “Who do I like? I don’t know. I’ve always liked watching Fernando in the race, even in the past. He’s a real fighter. I really like that.”

The 27-year-old also said: “Intelligence? I would always go for experience. No, I’m not going to name myself in any of this… so I would choose Fernando Alonso for his experience.”

Verstappen lauded Alonso’s “brilliant” defending and highlighted his mindset as one of the strongest on the grid.

The last question put to Verstappen was about who he believes is the greatest driver ever, and he handled it diplomatically.

“For me, it’s impossible to say. There are so many great drivers from different eras. I think it’s more important to simply appreciate all the great drivers that have ever existed.”

Charles Leclerc aiming to achieve what Fernando Alonso could not at Ferrari

Alonso has built a remarkable Formula 1 career, though the number of championships does not quite reflect his talent.

It has been two decades since Alonso claimed his first title with Renault, and a year later, he secured his second and last championship.

During his spell at Ferrari, he finished runner-up three times in the standings, each time edged out by Sebastian Vettel or Lewis Hamilton.

Leclerc is now aiming to bring an end to Ferrari’s long title drought, with 2026 shaping up as his best chance when new regulations come into play.

Verstappen holds both drivers in high regard, notably omitting Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris, and Hamilton from his responses.

This might hint at who he expects to be battling for the title next season if Red Bull, Aston Martin and Ferrari are all contenders again.