During the High Performance Podcast, former Formula 1 world champion Damon Hill described Max Verstappen as a “phenomenon” of the sport. Adding that the Dutchman is one of the greatest of all time, the pundit offered heavy praise to the four-time world champion.
Asked if he believed Verstappen was one of the all-time greatest drivers, Hill didn’t hold back in his assessment of the Red Bull ace.
“Right up there, no question,” he confirmed. He was further asked whether that meant he was Hill’s number one, the 1996 world champion continued.
“Possibly. I mean, in terms of his effectiveness, in terms of his preparedness, his maturity, his speed. He’s a phenomenon and there are very few phenomena.
“They are the ones that we know of, the Fangios, Jim Clarks, the Sennas and the Michael Schumachers.”
Hill has previously been critical of Verstappen’s driving strategies. In 2024, he said the driver uses “fear and intimidation” on-track, comparing him to Wacky Races villain Dick Dastardly.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
This comes as Verstappen surges forward in what has so far been a challenging 2025 campaign. Sat on 124 points, third in the drivers’ standings behind leader Oscar Piastri and his McLaren team-mate Lando Norris, the driver comes off an impressive win at Imola, his second Grand Prix victory of 2025.
His race boasted a stunning overtake on the first lap, edging out Piastri as he out-braked the Australian into the famous Tamburello chicane. His precision driving here put him in prime position to lead the entirety of the race in a masterclass offering.
This is the kind of racing Hill wants to be watching.
“Running people clean off the track just to stop someone from passing. It is not racing. It’s not racing. It’s simply, it’s dodgems or whatever you wanna call it.
“We want to see skill. We want to see skill and daring. We want it to be surgically done, not bludgeon. You know, you don’t take a, a mallet to something, you just, we wanna see it done with a rapier, you know, you wanna see it clean, done. Effectively done and beautifully done.
“You can’t have a free for all. You have to have someone saying, ‘okay we want to see racing, but we don’t want it going beyond certain bounds.’ You know, you have rules in every sport.”
