Red Bull boss Christian Horner believes Max Verstappen has been the ‘best driver in the world’ for the past year.
Since last year’s Canadian Grand Prix, when the Dutchman tweaked his approach after a crash-filled start to 2018, he has scored 13 podiums including three wins and has only retired twice due to mechanical issues.
This season, he has only failed to beat at least one Ferrari once in nine races and in Austria, producing a stunning fightback to claim victory, moving from fourth to first after his pit-stop.
“As the form driver, he is,” Horner said on whether his performances were better than world champion Lewis Hamilton.
“As the driver in the form of his life, arguably over the past 12 months, he’s been the best driver in the world.
“How do I substantiate that? He’s not in the best car, but when you look at the results he’s got out of that car since Montreal last year, some of the performances he’s put in, he’s made virtually zero mistakes in that period.”
As a result, the Red Bull chief claims it is only a matter of time before Verstappen replaces the Briton as F1’s benchmark.
“It’s only natural that there’s always the next generation coming,” he continued.
“Lewis has got the benefit of experience, he’s still extremely quick, he’s in the best car, in a very well-oiled machine.
“Max is very much the coming man. Wouldn’t it be fantastic for the sport to see those guys go head-to-head?”
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Horner also thinks the 21-year-old has evolved since becoming the clear No.1 at Red Bull this season.
“Daniel [Ricciardo] is such a big character, with a big sense of humour and Max always outside of the car came a little bit within Daniel’s shadow and was the jokey younger brother,” he explained.
“Since Daniel has left, Max has assumed the role of the senior driver within the team and the responsibility that goes with that.
“There’s a different level of maturity, of direction and sense of purpose with him. That has really rounded the package with him.”
Controversy is still never too far away from Verstappen though, as shown by his pass on Charles Leclerc to win in Spielberg, but that is something his boss welcomes.
“He’s passionate,” he stated. “If you go back to the issue with [shoving Esteban] Ocon last year, that’s part of the reason people warm to him. He’s not afraid to say it as it is.
“Is that a bad thing? I’d rather have a driver like that, that has that passion and fire in his belly.
“The sport is crying out for more drivers like Max Verstappen.”
