Max Verstappen continues to receive recognition from some of Formula 1’s most respected names, and this time the praise comes from a driver who knows exactly what it takes to become world champion with Ferrari.
Kimi Raikkonen, the last driver to win a Formula 1 world title for the Maranello team, has openly identified Max Verstappen as the strongest competitor currently racing on the grid. The Finn also revealed the precise moment he understood that the Dutch driver was destined to become one of the defining talents of his generation.
Speaking in an interview with Quotidiano Sportivo, Kimi Raikkonen reflected on the first years of Max Verstappen’s Formula 1 career and explained how quickly the Red Bull driver managed to impress the paddock.
According to Kimi Raikkonen, Max Verstappen immediately stood out as a unique talent during the Finn’s second spell with Ferrari, long before the Dutchman began collecting world championships.
The 2007 Formula 1 world champion reportedly described Max Verstappen as the strongest driver currently competing in Formula 1 and referred to him as a genuine phenomenon within the sport.
The race that convinced Kimi Raikkonen
Kimi Raikkonen also pointed to one specific race that completely changed his perception of the young Dutch driver: the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix.
That weekend remains one of the most iconic moments of modern Formula 1 history. After being promoted from Toro Rosso to Red Bull Racing ahead of the race, Max Verstappen stunned the paddock by winning on his debut for the Milton Keynes-based team at just 18 years old.
Crucially, Max Verstappen held off Kimi Raikkonen himself during the closing stages of the race despite immense pressure from the far more experienced Ferrari driver.
The Finn reportedly admitted that witnessing the composure, racecraft and maturity shown by Max Verstappen that day immediately convinced him Formula 1 was witnessing the arrival of a future superstar.
The former Ferrari driver explained that defeating experienced rivals under such pressure at that age was something extremely unusual in Formula 1 and demonstrated qualities that only very few drivers possess naturally.
Why Kimi Raikkonen’s praise carries weight
What makes the comments particularly significant is the personality behind them. Throughout his Formula 1 career, Kimi Raikkonen built a reputation for being brutally honest and emotionally reserved. The Finn was never known for exaggerated praise, political statements or empty compliments designed to attract headlines.
Because of that, when Kimi Raikkonen openly places Max Verstappen above the rest of the Formula 1 field, many inside the paddock pay close attention.
Over the years, several former champions and Formula 1 insiders have praised Max Verstappen’s combination of raw speed, aggression, consistency and technical understanding. However, hearing those words from a driver respected for his straightforward approach adds additional credibility to the growing perception that Max Verstappen has become the benchmark of the modern Formula 1 era.
Max Verstappen still defines modern Formula 1
Even during a season where Red Bull no longer appears completely untouchable, Max Verstappen continues to dominate discussions surrounding the sport’s elite drivers.
The balance of power in Formula 1 may have become more competitive with the rise of Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren, but Max Verstappen remains the driver most rivals still measure themselves against.
His performances continue to influence not only championship battles, but also wider discussions about driving standards, technical direction and even the future of Formula 1 regulations.
Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc remain among the biggest stars in the championship, while young talents like Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Oscar Piastri are beginning to establish themselves at the front. Yet many within the paddock still believe Max Verstappen combines the highest level of speed with the strongest mental resilience under pressure.
Kimi Raikkonen’s comments therefore reinforce an idea that has become increasingly common throughout Formula 1: regardless of changing cars, regulations or rivals, Max Verstappen is still viewed by many as the most complete driver on the current grid.
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