Nico Rosberg delivers 'greatest' Max Verstappen claim: 'It's unbelievable'

Nico Rosberg has declared Max Verstappen one of the five greatest F1 drivers of all time after the Dutchman delivered "magic" at Monza to secure pole.

In doing so, the Red Bull driver secured yet another F1 record, setting the fastest lap in the championship's history when judged on average speed.

His lap time of 1:18.792 at the Temple of Speed averaged 264.682 kph (164.47 mph) and took the feat from Lewis Hamilton, who achieved his lap at the same venue in 2020.

Rosberg, who is the Ferrari driver's former Mercedes team-mate, was, however, keen to emphasise how remarkable Verstappen's performance was to beat the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in inferior machinery.

The 2016 F1 drivers' champion highlighted how the RB21 had no right being on pole position when competing with the MCL39s.

"We know he's one of the five greatest F1 drivers of all time," the 40-year-old said on Sky Sports F1. "He's right up there and drives like today just prove that.

"You know, it's just unbelievable what he's able to do. I don't think the car was worthy to be on pole position in that way."

Rosberg underlined the "phenomenally perfect" laps Verstappen produced, something he judged to be all the more impressive given the pressure of qualifying was at its zenith.

"But he just pulled out the magic in the last moment, and especially in the last moment, when the pressure is the highest, Q3, that's when he delivered phenomenally perfect laps," the German added.