Former F1 team owner Eddie Jordan has suggested he would only select two drivers to take on Max Verstappen for the World Championship - with neither Lewis Hamilton nor Fernando Alonso included.
Verstappen has dominated the sport across the past two seasons, securing two consecutive record-breaking tallies of wins with 15 in 2022 and 17 last season as he picked up his second and third Drivers' titles.
The Dutchman's imperious form has seen him win despite eliminations during qualifying, with only Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez and Ferrari's Carlos Sainz stopping him last season - as well as McLaren's Oscar Piastri in the Qatar Sprint.
Speaking to F1 Insider, Jordan compared Verstappen to two legends of the sport, explaining: "I have experienced a lot over the years.
"In the first test with Michael Schumacher, it was already clear that he was going to be Ayrton Senna's challenger. He was so fast right away that we thought the stopwatch was broken.
"I also worked with Heinz-Harald Frentzen, a driver who, for me, is still the most underrated F1 driver ever. He was a natural talent. For me, however, Max Verstappen is a mix of Senna and Schumacher."
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No Hamilton in Jordan's dream team
With Verstappen's talent rated so highly by Jordan, he insists that only two drivers on the current grid would make his line-up if tasked with taking on the Red Bull driver, though seven-time champion Hamilton and two-time title-winner Alonso are omitted from his selection.
"I see only one challenger [for Verstappen]: Charles Leclerc," claimed Jordan.
"Ferrari must build a car of the level of Red Bull. Otherwise, I don't foresee much excitement. If I had to build a top team and Max was not available, there would only be one duo that could take him: Leclerc with Lando Norris as a teammate.
"I no longer believe that Hamilton and Alonso, both deserved champions, can keep up with Verstappen because of their age."
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Patrick Chapman
Personally I believe that there are several drivers currently in F1 that given the right car could challenge Max. I am not saying that they are better than Max as he is a generational talent but there are drivers in F1 that could give him a good challenge.
Robson Coimbra
Max Verstappen é uma mistura de Senna e Schumacher.
Feersumenjin
Two people who should have been run out of the F1 sphere ages ago are EJ and Rolf Schumacher. Their analysis is so far away from reality it beggars belief.
Bohunkgearhead
I can live with Eddie Jordan speaking out. He did a lot of good for drivers trying to make it in F1. Ralf is just a mouth. But now I see that some sites are publishing comments and analysis from drivers who never even won a race! Who cares??
Feersumenjin
It's a narrowing of the "expert"opinion of former participants of the sport with the fanbase who never sat in an F1 car at all. Every fan matters as it were, and the powers and journos that be are leveraging that into a whole new income model. PS I believe you have Ralf's anatomy upside down;)
Jac Wood
I like Charles, he's arguably the best qualifier on the grid. But didn't both Hamilton and Alonso finish above Leclerc in the 2023 driver standings despite all having similar paced cars? In fact, AMuS rated Ferrari the 2nd quickest car of 2023 yet both old boys Ham and Alo beat him in slower cars? I really think alot of these pundits don't think before they speak.
Bohunkgearhead
Norris has shown a lot, but so far, he cannot win a GP. Piastri may catch him and even could win a GP before Lando. Leclerc is undoubtedly quick, but he still has that "win it or bin it" attitude. Max is enjoying the domination. If Lewis Hamilton cannot win another in 2024 or 2025, will he retire? Mercedes may have Antonelli ready by 2026. They would be foolish to park him at another team for three years. It really did not help George Russell to spend three years with Williams.