'Why doesn't Verstappen get the appreciation he deserves everywhere?'

I admit it frankly. When this site gave Max Verstappen a ten for his performance in Melbourne last weekend, I questioned it. Twice the world champion did not have a top start and once during this Australian Grand Prix he missed his corner. Not a perfect weekend, still a ten? Strange.

I have since come to my senses. The ten given is totally justified. In fact, the final result was perfect. Had the safety-car not entered the track in the closing stages, the Dutchman would have won the race by a wide margin (at least ten seconds) over direct pursuer Lewis Hamilton. Just as Verstappen was also supreme during qualifying. Let's face it: the third start of the race, the moment it really needed to be, that's when Verstappen was there.

Calculative approach

Those two lesser starts? You can also see it differently. Verstappen noticed that first Russell and later Hamilton got off better. So why defend with his knife between his teeth, closing the door, possibly with all the consequences? It is precisely such a calculated approach that makes Verstappen deserve that ten. Thinking is an important part of Formula 1, it's not just accelerating. It is choosing the right moments, something Verstappen has been doing all season.

Three Grands Prix have now been run and Verstappen has performed perfectly in them: two wins and a second place after starting from position 15! Teammate Sergio Perez showed in Melbourne how underestimated what a huge task that is. Critics no doubt say Verstappen had the help of the safety car in Jeddah, allowing him to join the field. Well, Perez was able to take advantage of a stalled start twice, but the Mexican still failed to advance to second place.

Norris doing better than Verstappen?

Despite his great performance Down Under, Verstappen got the better of some of the other media. One English website, for instance, rated the performance of no fewer than four other drivers higher than Verstappen's (Russell, Alonso, Norris and Hamilton). English site, partly English drivers. Let's be realistic: In the Netherlands, we are also chauvinistic. But you cannot in good conscience maintain that Lando Norris was better than Verstappen in Melbourne.

An English television station came out with the report figures after three races this Tuesday. In it, Fernando Alonso is rated higher than Max Verstappen. The Spaniard gets a nine for the season openers, Verstappen an eight. As many as Nico Hulkenberg and George Russell.

Just that little bit extra

My suspicion is that these drivers are ranked higher or equal to Verstappen because they manage to amass good results with lesser cars. So in effect, Verstappen does not get the rating he deserves because his Red Bull is the best car in the field. It is 'forgotten' that such a strong car without a top driver is of little consequence. That Red Bull does not drive empty on the circuits, it really needs someone in it who makes the right choices and can go hard with it.

A mediocre driver will probably drive it reasonably well at the front. Only Verstappen gets something extra out of it. That is the difference between him and teammate Sergio Perez, or in the past Lewis Hamilton compared to Valtteri Bottas. Just as Fernando Alonso manages to keep Lance Stroll behind him. Of course, Alonso is having a fine year for now. Compliments! But his Aston Martin is the second best on the grid. So shouldn't the Spaniard come third by default? Does that mean he has a better season than Verstappen? I don't think Alonso has won anything at all.

Impressive in his era

Max Verstappen - like last season - is having the perfect year. His results are optimal, he is still getting more out of his indeed great Red Bull and is well on his way to a third, consecutive world title. What more could he have done up to this point? Why is he not getting the recognition he deserves everywhere?

The only thing I can think of is this: Verstappen makes it all look so simple. As if he hardly makes an effort, racing takes no effort from him at all. All the legends in motorsport had to deal with it during their active careers. It was always that car that did it. Perhaps we simply have to wait until Verstappen retires before everyone really realises how impressive he was during his era in Formula 1.

This opinion article was written by Dutch editor Ludo van Denderen, originally published on the Dutch edition of GPBlog.