Max Verstappen won his third consecutive championship title on Sunday and the Dutch driver is receiving praise from F1 icons.
Eddie Jordan has revealed that he believes Oscar Piastri is the best candidate to compete with Max Verstappen for the drivers’ championship in the coming years. Lewis Hamilton and George Russell are among those who believe they can push the Red Bull star far in the future, although it remains to be seen whether the Mercedes cars are capable of doing so.
Verstappen claimed his third straight title at this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix, an outcome that had been foretold for weeks after his impressive start to the season. The Dutchman looks set to enjoy a long spell of dominance in Formula 1, as many of his rivals struggle to find a way to launch a grand slam. The 26-year-old won at the Luisail International Circuit, and Verstappen remains determined to end the season on a high and assert his dominance – even without the pressure. However, the remaining group hopes to reach the milestone before 2024 and from there, will mark themselves as the best candidates to push Verstappen to future titles.
Speaking on talkSPORT, the former Jordan team owner believes Piastri will take on the role, saying:
“You have to think about McLaren. McLaren at the moment and Oscar Piastri are fantastic and he’s the only one I see emerging who can compete with [Max] Verstappen in the coming years.
“And let’s hope that happens, because for a kid, the rookie of the year, to come and win the sprint race on Saturday and finish second yesterday was quite something amazing. And I have to say I have the greatest respect for this boy and I think he has a big future. Let’s see what happens.”
Russell and Hamilton have both expressed disappointment at not winning in recent weeks, and as a result neither of Jordan’s appointees has raised any eyebrows in the Mercedes camp.
Jordan went on to say that, despite Piastri’s praise, he believes Verstappen has what it takes to dominate the sport for years to come. He continued:
“Sometimes you look at Messi and think ‘My God, how did he score that goal?’ Forget Ronaldo or Maradona.
“This guy (Verstappen) is special, he is very dedicated, he is very dedicated to everything. It’s almost boring because it’s in the simulator. Right now, he’s learning the exact turns, the corners, how he can go faster in Austin in the next race, and more. He is very dedicated to dominating and that is what he does.
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