Damon Hill Praises Max Verstappen as Formula 1 Phenomenon

Former Formula 1 world champion, Damon Hill, has praised Max Verstappen, describing the Red Bull Racing driver as a rare motorsport phenomenon during a recent appearance on the High Performance podcast.

“He’s right up there, no question. In terms of his effectiveness, preparedness, maturity, and speed — he’s a phenomenon and there are very few phenomena. They are the ones that we know of, the Fangios, Jim Clarks, Sennas and Michael Schumachers,” said Hill.

Verstappen Battling Through 2025 Season

This statement comes as Max Verstappen navigates a challenging 2025 Formula 1 season, where he currently ranks third in the drivers’ standings with 124 points. He trails behind the McLaren duo — Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.

The Dutch driver recently secured his second victory of the season at Imola, delivering a remarkable overtake on Piastri at the Tamburello corner.

From Criticism to Commendation

Interestingly, just a year ago, Hill had been critical of Verstappen’s aggressive style, comparing him to cartoon villain Dick Dastardly and urging for more skillful and sportsmanlike driving.

“We want to see skill and daring. We want it to be surgically done, not bludgeoned. You want to see it done clean, effectively and beautifully,” he added.