Max Verstappen: Nico Rosberg says new triple F1 champion close to being in ‘greatest five’ of all time

Sky F1 experts in Qatar have their say on the sport’s latest three-time world champion and the dominant 2023 season he delivered; Verstappen is the 11th driver to win at least three championships

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Max Verstappen says he never dreamed it would be possible to win three world titles, and insists he hasn’t thought about how many more he could win.

Sky Sports F1’s Nico Rosberg believes Max Verstappen is already knocking on the door to be considered among the five greatest Formula 1 drivers of all time.

Verstappen clinched his third consecutive world title with a second-place finish in Saturday’s Qatar Sprint, confirming one of the most dominant seasons the sport has ever seen.

Joining an illustrious list of drivers who have won three titles, there are now only four other drivers ahead of Verstappen on the all-time championship list.

“It’s really historic,” Rosberg, the 2016 champion, said of the 26-year-old’s season.

“It’s incredible the form he’s had and the level he’s riding at, the records he’s breaking. Unreal.

“He’s even getting closer to the top five of all time now. It’s spectacular. With the way he drives, he’s getting closer to Fangio, Schumacher, Senna and Hamilton.”

Rosberg, who was teammates of Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher at Mercedes, later added: “It’s so motivating for the Red Bull team to know that they have one of the greatest drivers of all time behind the wheel of their machine.

“It’s such an inspiring thing and that’s what motivates them.”

Chandhok: “Imperious” Max likes “Nadal on clay” for his teammate

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Red Bull boss Christian Horner says Max Verstappen can consider himself one of the sport’s “greats” after winning his third consecutive world title.

After setting a new record for most wins in a single season (15) en route to his second title last year, Verstappen is on track to ensure this year ends up being even more dominant – the Dutchman already has up to 13 victories with There are still six races to go.

And he starts from pole position for the 10th time this year for Sunday’s 57-lap Grand Prix in Qatar.

Verstappen’s relentless, almost unbeatable, form is increasingly at odds with Sergio Perez’s struggles in the sister Red Bull RB19. Sky F1’s Karun Chandhok compared Perez’s experience to that of tennis great Rafael Nadal’s opponents at the French Open, where the Spaniard has won 14 times.

“Imperious. That’s what they have been as a collective on (Verstappen’s) side of the garage,” Chandhok said. “It hasn’t been easy for Perez.

“If you play against Rafael Nadal at his peak on clay, whatever you do with the ball will come back to you. That’s what it’s like to be teammates with Verstappen.

“As a driver, psychologically you go into the pits, you look at the data, you’ve given it your all and you say ‘there’s still half a second left. Where is that half a second?’ And you keep living that week after week.”

Sky F1 pundit Naomi Schiff said: “You have to say if you look at Checo’s (Perez) season so far and the gap between him and Max, yes it’s a competitive car, but the The question is how much of it Max is able to extract.” of this car that perhaps any other driver could not have done?

“Even though it’s a solid car, I think he’s doing fantastic things with it.”

Sky Sports F1’s Qatar Grand Prix live schedule on Sunday

Sunday October 8

• 4:30 p.m.: Grand Prix Sunday: preparation for the Qatar GP
• 6 p.m.: THE QATAR GRAND PRIX
• 8 p.m.: Checkered flag: reaction to the Qatar GP
• 9 p.m.: Ted’s notebook

Watch Max Verstappen’s first race as a three-time world champion at the Qatar GP live on Sky Sports F1 on Sunday. The race starts at 6 p.m. with a start from 4:30 p.m. Stream F1 on Sky Sports with NOW for £21 a month for six months