With his fourth consecutive world title, Max Verstappen has definitively joined the ranks of Formula 1 legends. He now holds as many championships as Alain Prost and Sebastian Vettel, and there’s a high likelihood that he will continue to add to his tally in the coming years. Prost, for one, has no issue with this.
More Titles to Come
“Max is an exceptional driver. From his first laps in a Formula 1 car, it was clear that he had something special,” said the four-time world champion in an interview with RMC Motori. “I have no doubt that he will surpass me and win even more titles.”
Verstappen is often compared to iconic drivers from the past, and according to Gerhard Berger, his approach strongly resembles that of Niki Lauda: direct, no-nonsense, and with a clear vision of what he wants. Prost, who worked closely with Lauda at McLaren, understands the comparison. “Max is just like Niki, very straightforward,” explained the Frenchman. “If you asked Lauda something, you always got an honest answer. Verstappen has the same style, he’s to the point and knows exactly what he needs. But beyond that, I don’t want to compare the drivers of then and now.”
A Long Season with Too Many Races
What Prost does take issue with, however, is the length of the current Formula 1 season. In 2024, there were 24 races on the calendar, a number he simply finds excessive. “For me, 17 or 18 races were already a lot. Of course, we had many test days in my time, but I always found that more useful than even more races. Especially for young drivers, it would be better to get more time on the track instead of just in the simulator.”
