F1 ICON: Max Verstappen trait that puts him above Lewis Hamilton in all… Read more
F1 icon explains Max Verstappen trait that puts him above Lewis Hamilton in all-time list
By Hugo Harvey
Max Verstappen’s place among Formula One’s greatest drivers continues to be a subject of fierce debate, but former F1 star David Coulthard believes one defining personal trait separates the Dutchman from seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton in the all-time rankings. Speaking on the Red Flags podcast, Coulthard argued that Verstappen’s grounded, present-focused mindset gives him an edge over Hamilton when assessing the very best the sport has ever seen.
Verstappen, who narrowly missed out on a fifth consecutive Drivers’ Championship crown in 2025, remains firmly on course to challenge many of Hamilton’s most iconic records. While the Briton still leads the all-time wins list with 105 Grand Prix victories, Verstappen has already amassed 71 race wins at just 28 years old, a statistic that underlines how much time he still has to reshape the record books should he remain motivated and competitive in Formula One’s new regulatory era.
Coulthard’s assessment was not framed as a dismissal of Hamilton’s extraordinary career, but rather as a reflection on how greatness evolves across generations. He suggested that each era should naturally raise the bar, with new champions building on what came before. In his view, Verstappen represents that evolutionary step, combining relentless speed with an authenticity and self-awareness that stands out even among elite champions.
According to Coulthard, Verstappen’s strength lies in how present and self-assured he is, both on and off the track. He highlighted how the Red Bull driver shows little concern for image management, speaking openly when he is unhappy and owning his emotions without hesitation. That transparency, Coulthard argued, reflects a driver fully comfortable with who he is, someone not weighed down by external expectations or legacy considerations.
Hamilton, by contrast, was described as having a slight disconnect in recent years, despite his undeniable achievements. Coulthard was careful to stress the respect Hamilton deserves for redefining Formula One’s standards of success, but he questioned whether the Briton is still operating at his absolute peak. The 2025 season, in particular, offered fuel for that debate.
Hamilton endured a difficult campaign, finishing the year without a podium and collecting just 156 points. His struggles were most evident over a single lap, with a series of uncharacteristic Q1 eliminations in the latter half of the season raising eyebrows across the paddock. For a driver long regarded as one of the finest qualifiers in F1 history, those results were stark.
Coulthard pointed to a key metric he believes defines true greatness in Formula One: performance relative to team-mates. In his view, the sport ultimately boils down to two indisputable measures — the stopwatch and the chequered flag. Qualifying pace determines grid position, while race results decide who lifts trophies. Everything else, he argued, is opinion.
Using that lens, Coulthard suggested Hamilton has not consistently dominated his team-mates in recent seasons. He referenced Hamilton’s head-to-head battles with George Russell at Mercedes and his ongoing comparison with Charles Leclerc at Ferrari, implying that Hamilton has not clearly outperformed either over a sustained period. For Coulthard, that contrasts with Verstappen’s continued ability to assert himself as the unequivocal benchmark within his team.
Despite those criticisms, Coulthard was quick to acknowledge Hamilton’s monumental legacy, describing it as deserving of immense respect. However, he questioned whether the outright speed that once defined Hamilton’s peak years is still fully there. That uncertainty, he admitted, made his assessment controversial, but one he felt compelled to make based on results rather than sentiment.
What ultimately tipped the balance for Coulthard was the sense that Verstappen is still evolving. While Hamilton’s career appears to be in its later chapters, Verstappen gives the impression of a driver still adding layers to his craft, still hungry, and still capable of reaching new heights. That ongoing development, combined with his raw speed and mental clarity, led Coulthard to place Verstappen ahead in the greatest-of-all-time discussion.
As Formula One moves deeper into a new technical era, the Verstappen–Hamilton comparison is likely to persist, especially as records come under threat. Whether Verstappen ultimately surpasses Hamilton statistically remains to be seen, but in Coulthard’s eyes, it is Verstappen’s grounded presence and continued growth that already set him apart in the pantheon of F1 legends.
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