Overview

• Asked to identify the top current drivers across six categories, Max Verstappen limited his picks to Charles Leclerc and Fernando Alonso.
• He cited Leclerc as the strongest in qualifying and praised the Ferrari driver’s overtaking ability.
• He selected Alonso for race performance, race intelligence based on experience, defensive skill, and competitive mentality.
• Verstappen said he would not include himself in any category and declined to name the most charismatic driver or a single greatest in F1 history.
• Coverage framed the omissions as a notable snub of Lewis Hamilton, whose first season at Ferrari had not yet yielded a podium, while Verstappen remains a four-time reigning champion from 2021 to 2024.