Breaking:Nico Rosberg in Awe of Max Verstappen’s ‘Artistic’ Driving, Says He’s Still a T...read more

Max Verstappen can’t be counted out of the F1 2025 title race, says fellow world champion.

Despite being 25 points adrift of the current championship leader, Oscar Piastri, Max Verstappen remains a formidable contender in the 2025 Formula 1 title race—at least according to 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg.

The Red Bull ace, who already boasts four world titles, has faced a tough challenge this season with McLaren producing a faster car over the first eight rounds. Yet Verstappen has still managed to capture two wins and sits third in the championship standings. While the Dutchman has publicly downplayed the sense of a heated title battle, stating his rivalry with Piastri and teammate Lando Norris “doesn’t really feel like a fight,” Rosberg strongly disagrees.

“Max is still very much in the mix,” Rosberg told Sky Sports F1. “He dominated at Imola—the last conventional circuit we raced at—and looked incredibly strong. Even when he’s slightly off the pace, like we’ve seen here in Spain, he’s close enough that you can never rule him out. He’s been exceptional.”

Rosberg, who retired after beating Lewis Hamilton in a dramatic 2016 title campaign, didn’t hold back in his praise, even calling Verstappen the “driver of the year” so far. What impressed him most wasn’t just the results—but the way Verstappen achieves them.

During the Spanish Grand Prix practice sessions, where Verstappen finished P2 and P3, Rosberg had the rare chance to observe trackside and witness what he described as the Dutchman’s “magic” behind the wheel.

“It’s been a long time since I stood out on track watching the cars live,” Rosberg admitted. “But seeing Max in action again was absolutely fascinating. These current F1 cars are tricky—unstable at the rear, hard to control—but Max makes it look effortless.”

He went on to describe Verstappen’s uncanny ability to control oversteer in a way few drivers can.

“These cars want to snap and slide all the time,” Rosberg explained. “Most drivers struggle with that. They either understeer into the corner or snap into oversteer on exit. But Max has this incredible knack for manipulating the car into just the right kind of oversteer—and keeping it right on the edge without overstepping. He’s walking a tightrope, but he never falls. It’s stunning to watch—like watching an artist paint in real-time.”

Rosberg also drew a comparison with Red Bull’s second driver, Yuki Tsunoda, to highlight Verstappen’s subtle brilliance.

“Yuki’s a quick and talented driver,” he said. “But when you watch him, you see the car snapping hard—first understeer, then oversteer—it’s rough. With Max, everything is smoother, more controlled. That’s where the lap time comes from. It’s not big movements, it’s tiny, precise inputs. It’s next-level car control, and it’s why Max is consistently several tenths faster than every teammate he’s had.”

Rosberg concluded by reaffirming that Verstappen, even without the fastest car, is a constant title threat.

“You just can’t count him out,” he said. “His raw ability, his feel for the car, and his consistency make him a contender every weekend. Watching him is like watching a masterpiece in motion.”