Max Verstappen is undoubtedly a generational talent. The way he came onto the scene, and won with Red Bull, and everything that he has done since has solidified his legacy as one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time. For some, his attitude on the track and off of it may be polarizing, to say the least. However, no one can ever dispute the pure racing genius and talent of the man. But to put things into perspective, is he dominating only because he has the best car on the grid?

This debate has raged on for as long as F1 has been in existence. Is the car the only good criterion to judge the talent and exploits of a driver? Many would say yes. Be that as it may, in the past, we’ve seen drivers like Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna rip the field apart in cars that didn’t really deserve those accolades. And with what evidence we have, Verstappen may be one among them.

Max Verstappen tipped to obliterate F1 in a Ferrari

Ferrari‘s 2023 challenger is arguably not up to the mark. But the true potential of the car is only as much as the drivers at their disposal can eke out of it. But according to former F1 driver, Michael Bleekemolen Verstappen has what it takes to win in even the SF-23 when neither Charles Leclerc nor Carlos Sainz can.

He was quoted by F1Maximaal.nl as saying, “Max is just another typical case like Senna in his time, and that is just a bit better than the rest who are now driving. Because put Max in a Ferrari, well I think he’s also leading the way. That might take a few races, but it will get there.” [translated via Google Translate]

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Verstappen’s teammate, Sergio Perez has started the season on a strong note. And he believes that the team are behind him as much as they are behind Verstappen. But has he erred in his judgment?

Verstappen is still Red Bull’s No. 1 priority

When a driver like Verstappen is in your ranks, it’s natural to bend all your will his way. But with another driver at the team, does Red Bull have its priorities sorted? If Bleekemolen is to be believed, then they do, but it is to the detriment of the Mexican.

He revealed, “So yes, that will be difficult for Pérez. I certainly don’t see him as a world champion. Firstly, Max will never allow it and neither will the team, so it’s not going to work out that way.”

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Can Max Verstappen really dominate even if he isn’t behind the wheel of the RB19?