Emerson Fittipaldi: ‘If I had an F1 team and could hire anyone, I’d hire Verstappen’

Reigning four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen might just be the most highly-rated current driver – and Emerson Fittipaldi clearly won’t disagree.

Double world champion Fittipaldi was asked by Motorsport.com Autosport about the Red Bull driver’s current performance in an exclusive interview, and the Brazilian readily singled him out as the best driver on the grid in his opinion.

“If I had a Formula 1 team and if I had the option to hire anybody, then I would hire Max,” Fittipaldi said. “Max would be my first guy to hire.

“I think Max is on a different level as a racing driver. Even when the car is not good, he just carries the car on his back.”

Verstappen’s title-winning streak is set to end in 2025, but he’s still having a remarkably impressive campaign, sitting third in the championship and having scored 187 of Red Bull’s 194 points alongside successive team-mates Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda.

Fittipaldi has also expressed its appreciation for Brazilian rookie Gabriel Bortoleto, with the South American country one of the most successful in F1 history but Bortoleto its first full-time driver since Felipe Massa’s retirement at the end of the 2017 season.

Lately, Sauber driver Bortoleto has been a match for veteran team-mate Nico Hulkenberg, whom he has outqualified 5-0 in the latest five qualifying sessions (sprint included). After a point-less first 10 grands prix, Bortoleto scored points in the last four rounds, with sixth position in Hungary his best result so far.

“I think everybody is surprised, to be honest,” Fittipaldi said. “You know, the last race was amazing, if you see where he was running with that Sauber. I think he did a fantastic performance, in both qualifying and the race. It’s very impressive to see.

“I know him since he started racing in karting. He has always been a very good driver, but I think in Formula 1, he’s at the next level now.

“And also, we shouldn’t forget Nico Hulkenberg. He is very quick; I think it helps Gabriel a lot to have a good reference.”