Former F1 team principal
Guenther Steiner stated
Max Verstappen "for sure is the best" driver on the grid in 2024, even better than
Lewis Hamilton.
The "best driver on the F1 grid" is a topic that will never possibly go away. Firstly, because no one can agree on one driver, but secondly, because drivers in F1 keep changing and improving.
The two most accomplished drivers on the grid at the moment are Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, and the debate is usually centered around them.
Former team Haas F1 team principal
Guenther Steiner shared his opinion on this topic during a recent appearance on
F1's Beyond the Grid Podcast with host Tom Clarkson. He said:
"I think he [Max Verstappen] is [the best], He's young, he's very hungry, he's a racer and he's very talented. All this put together."
Verstappen recently turned 27 (September 30th). He already has 61 race wins and three titles and is competing for his fourth.
The former team principal also mentioned the seven-time World Champion - Hamilton, who achieved even more (105 race wins) in his longer career. However, Steiner isn't sure whether the 39-year-old still has the same level of motivation.
"You could say that for Lewis Hamilton as well. He's won seven championships. Lewis for sure is a fantastic driver. But is Lewis as driven and hungry as Max is? I don't know."
"Maybe Max in five years is different as well. We don't have the Max now like the Max from four or five years ago."
Verstappen himself recently reflected on how his driving style evolved and changed as he started regularly competing for race wins and Championships.
While former F1 driver David Coulthard suggested both Hamilton and Verstappen belong into the "GOAT" (greatest of all time) category, Steiner thinks one of them is better at the moment. He added:
"I think as a complete driver, in the moment, Max for sure is the best."