Nico Rosberg claims Max Verstappen has achieved the same ‘historic greatness’ as legends Ayrton Senna, Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher

The Dutchman's extraordinary performances impress further with every passing race weekend

Ayrton Senna, Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher and Max Verstappen(Credits: The Guardian, The Mirror and SI)

Following the first seven rounds of the 2023 season, Max Verstappen holds a commanding 53-point lead in the standings over his teammate Sergio Perez. Verstappen’s outstanding performance has seen him emerge victorious in five races, showcasing the same dominant form that propelled him to his second title in the 2022 season. The former driver-turned-pundit Nico Rosberg believes Verstappen’s current run puts him on the same page as drivers that have enjoyed monumental success in F1.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Nico Rosberg said, “We are witnessing real historic greatness in line with Schumacher, Hamilton, Senna. It’s a really incredible performance, extraordinary. Every expectation is you are going to win over and over, it’s quite demanding. I can’t put myself in his shoes. Money-wise, he’s done. He has so much he won’t have to work again or worry again. Record-wise he’s already one of the best of all time by the end of this year.”

Nico Rosberg also addressed the potential retirement threats from Verstappen, which he speculates stemmed from his intense rivalry with Lewis Hamilton in 2021. “Those battles are so fierce and intense, it takes a lot of the fun away as well. The sport will always be an intense environment, especially when you are fighting for championships every year and you are the guy who has it all to lose,” he said.

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Verstappen’s incredible run seems to continue, with his dominance growing stronger with every race. No obstacle can seem to hinder the Dutchman from victory, as he displayed by completing his spectacular hattrick of wins after the Spanish GP.

Max Verstappen is one victory away from equaling the legendary Ayrton Senna

In an exhilarating Spanish Grand Prix, Max Verstappen once again demonstrated his dominance and mastery while driving a flawless car in a perfect race. Starting the race from the pole position, the Dutch driver led every lap of the 66-lap race, securing his seventh victory of the season and reaching a remarkable milestone of 40 career F1 wins.

This exceptional achievement brought Verstappen within touching distance of Ayrton Senna’s illustrious record of 41 Grand Prix victories, further highlighting his extraordinary talent. Furthermore, Verstappen accomplished a Grand Slam in Barcelona for the third time in his career, adding yet another rare feat to his already impressive list of accomplishments in F1.

?️ | Rosberg says we are witnessing historic greatness with Max Verstappen

"We are witnessing real historic greatness in line with Schumacher, Hamilton, Senna."

"It's a really incredible performance, extraordinary." pic.twitter.com/cONivN1x1U
— RBR Daily (@RBR_Daily) June 12, 2023

Remarkably, despite the magnitude of his achievements, Verstappen made it appear effortless, showcasing his extraordinary skill and ease on the track. The Dutchman recently also surpassed the career podiums of Ayrton Senna. The Brazilian icon achieved a spectacular 80 podiums in his F1 career. Superstar Verstappen has already stepped on 84 podiums, being just 25 years of age.

There is much more to come from the Dutchman in his career as he storms toward a third consecutive F1 title. He already has a lead of 53 points over Sergio Perez in the second – a deficit that has never been overcome. This potentially already gives Verstappen one hand on the trophy. With the feats the Dutchman achieves each weekend, it is easy to see why Rosberg believes he has the potential to reach the heights of Senna, Michael Schumacher, and Lewis Hamilton.