Sir Jackie Stewart on where Max Verstappen stands among F1 greats at Italian GP

03 September 2023 , 12:22

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Sir Jackie Stewart gave his verdict on Max Verstappen as he spoke to Sky F1 (Image: Sky Sports)

Sir Jackie Stewart declared it too early to place Max Verstappen among the true Formula 1 greats.

But the Scot did heap praise upon the Red Bull driver who is dominating the sport these days. His team won the first 13 races of this season and Verstappen took 11 of those victories.

It means he is all but certain to win a third-straight drivers' title. And, at the age of 25, he still has many years ahead of him to smash even more F1 records if he keeps winning.

When he secures the championship this season, the Dutchman will draw level with Sir Jackie in that regard. Now aged 84, the last of his titles came 50 years ago and he is at the Italian Grand Prix this weekend to mark the occasion.

He remains a regular in the F1 paddock and continues to love the sport. Having watched racing as a boy, started in F1 himself in the mid-1960s and followed it ever since he retired, Stewart has witnessed all the F1 greats from every era.

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So he was the perfect person for Sky Sports to ask about where Verstappen stands among them as he spoke to the broadcaster in the Monza pit lane before the race. In response, he made it clear he is not ready to make a definitive statement on that.

"It's too early!" replied the inimitable Scot. "Because he's still winning. As long as he keeps winning, and then he stops before he's not winning – Fangio was able to do that. Verstappen now is driving so well, he's absolutely clear in his head and very impressive."

Victory at Monza for Verstappen would be his 10th F1 race win in a row – setting a new record. He matched the longest streak of nine in front of his adoring home fans last weekend as he survived turbulent weather to win at Zandvoort.

To win at Monza, he will have to break the hearts of the locals. The Tifosi are dreaming of a famous Ferrari win on home soil after Carlos Sainz upset the Dutchman to take pole position, while Charles Leclerc also qualified well in third.

George Russell was fourth on the grid behind them, but the weekend has been more of a struggle for Lewis Hamilton. He could only go eighth quickest on Saturday and lamented the fact a McLaren and a Williams were able to go quicker than him.

Daniel Moxon