Max Verstappen now told he has a ‘unique’ gift that makes him the Tiger Woods of Formula 1

It’s hard to argue that Max Verstappen isn’t the fastest driver in Formula 1 right now.

Red Bull have nurtured Max Verstappen from a young age, and after making his F1 debut 10 years ago, he’s now a four-time world champion with the potential to add plenty more titles to his collection.

At the age of just 27, he’s already achieved more than nearly every driver in the history of the sport has managed, although the drivers’ championship might be out of reach this year unless Red Bull find a way to quickly improve the RB21.

Unsurprisingly, Verstappen’s dominance has drawn comparisons to stars in other sports and claims that he’s one of the greatest drivers in F1 history.

Verstappen’s best-ever F1 season was statistically stronger than Michael Schumacher’s which is incredible to consider given how dominant the German was during his time with Ferrari.

David Coulthard suggested Verstappen’s drive in Sao Paulo last year was the stuff of legend after progressing from P17 to comfortably win the race in the harshest of conditions.

Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images

Jaime Alguersuari describes the ‘gift’ Max Verstappen and Tiger Woods share

Former Toro Rosso and F1 star Jaime Alguersuari was speaking on the Beyond The Grid Podcast about the Dutchman.

Alguersuari was once the record holder for the youngest driver in F1 history when he made his debut at the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix.

DRIVER
TEAM
AGE
RACE

Max Verstappen
Toro Rosso
17 years, 166 days
2015 Australian GP

Lance Stroll
Williams
18 years, 148 days
2017 Australian GP

Andrea Kimi Antonelli
Mercedes
18 years, 202 days
2025 Australian GP

Oliver Bearman
Ferrari
18 years, 305 days
2024 Saudi Arabian GP

Lando Norris
McLaren
19 years, 124 days
2019 Australian GP

Jaime Alguersuari
Toro Rosso
19 years, 125 days
2009 Hungarian GP

Mike Thackwell
Tyrrell
19 years, 182 days
1980 Canadian GP

Ricardo Rodriguez
Ferrari
19 years, 208 days
1961 Italian GP

Fernando Alonso
Minardi
19 years, 218 days
2001 Australian GP

Esteban Tuero
Minardi
19 years, 320 days
1998 Australian GP

Youngest Formula 1 drivers in history
That record was broken by Verstappen, and when Alguersuari was asked about him making his F1 debut at the age of 17, he said: “Unique. You can sum it up in one word. I think it’s unique.

“And the reason why it’s unique is because I think Max had a very different education than anybody else in karting, the way he trained, the way he competed.

“He competed in everything, shifter karts, normal karts. He was competitive in every single environment, in every single circumstance he was given.

“He had pure speed. And it’s not just a gift from God. It’s also like those gifts that Tiger Woods has and all the greatest sportsmen in the world.

“But this is hard work. It’s not just a gift from the sky, you know. It’s hard, like a lot of work, like really, really a lot of work.

“And this is why Max was so successful from the very, very start. And I think that’s why he was unique.”

How Tiger Woods inspired Lewis Hamilton during his Formula 1 career

Although Woods and Verstappen haven’t ever commented on each other’s careers, Woods has proven to be an inspiration to the Dutchman’s rival, Lewis Hamilton.

In an interview in 2017 with the FIA’s official magazine, AUTO, Hamilton said: “I saw what Tiger was doing and I was like: one day I want to be like that in my world, in racing.

“I’d look at the Williams sisters breaking through and think: I pray and hope that one day I can be great like they have been because they have broken down barriers.

“For example, I play golf now because of Tiger. Well, actually I’ve quit because I suck!

“But I took it up because of Tiger, and I started playing tennis because of the Williams sisters, it’s just how it goes.”

Verstappen and Hamilton still have a long way to go if they want to reach the same level of achievement as Woods.

The 49-year-old spent more than 13 years sitting at the top of the World Golf Rankings, has won 15 major championships and is tied for the most wins on the PGA Tour.

His dominance of the sport was extraordinary, and while Verstappen and Hamilton have both reached that level in spells, they may never be as good as Woods was at his peak.