Verstappen shines among generational peers: 'He has a wow factor'

Sky Sports analyst and former racing driver Johnny Herbert still gets excited about Max Verstappen as a driver. The Brit places the Dutchman on the same level as the most talented drivers in Formula 1.

With two world titles in his pocket, Verstappen will start his ninth season in Formula 1 next year. At the age of 17, the Dutchman made his debut with Toro Rosso, making him the youngest ever F1 driver. Nor will his record be broken for now, as the minimum age to enter F1 is now eighteen.

"I was 24 years old when I made my F1 debut and that was young, but that’s old now", Herbert says in an interview with Total-Motorsport.com. "This is a very good generation coming through of young drivers but also the old ones too with Hamilton and [Fernando] Alonso. Max was the first of those young ones to break through."

'Verstappen has a wow factor'

Along with Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris and George Russell are seen as the future of Formula 1 as the new, younger generation. However, Herbert believes Verstappen has something special.

"He still really excites me when I watch him. There’s a wow factor with Max. Special drivers have that something extra that allows them to win races, but more importantly win a world championship", says the former F1 driver.