In the last two years, Max Verstappen has done enough to prove to the world what he is capable of. He has clearly proven those wrong who believed the best of F1 will be gone with the likes of Fernando Alonso and 7x champion Lewis Hamilton. Defeating Hamilton twice in two years is a testament to the fact that the new generation of F1 is as exciting as ever. In light of this, a former F1 driver recently hailed the Dutchman for his abilities and commitment to his craft.

Debuting for Toro Rosso at the tender age of 17, Verstappen broke the record for being the youngest F1 driver ever. That record might stay forever unless F1 changes its minimum age rule and removes the 18-year bar. That was a time when many doubted his place in the pinnacle of motorsport, but the way he has progressed, all doubts have been laid to rest.

Recently speaking with Total-Motorsport, Johnny Herbert said, “I was 24 years old when I made my F1 debut and that was young, but that’s old now.”

“This is a very good generation coming through of young drivers but also the old ones too with Hamilton and Alonso. Max was the first of those young ones to break through,” he continued.

“He still really excites me when I watch him. There’s a wow factor with Max. Special drivers have that something extra that allows them to win races, but more importantly win a world championship.”

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During the interview, they asked Herbert if he thought with young guns like Charles Leclerc, George Russell, and Lando Norris, the current grid was in its best shape. The three-time GP winner refrained from comparing different eras of drivers, citing the amount of data available to the current crop.

Johnny Herbert compares his era of drivers with the current one

As the sport has progressed, so has the technology with it. Popularity has gone up as well, bringing in more money and more expertise in every different field. The scenario is vastly different from what it used to be during Herbert’s era.

He said, “The one big thing that is different from when I started, for example, is they have so much more information [now] before they even step in the car. If it was a new track, we literally turn up at a race track, walk around the track, or on a bike. Then when you did the first free practice that was the first time you went around the track [in a car].”

“These guys have done thousands of laps before they get there [in the simulator]. The technology of being able to set up the car is all done in the factory before they turn up, whereas we had to do it when we got to the track. It’s unbelievable with the amount of information they have, that they absorb and actually understand exactly what’s going on in the car.”

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The amount of data a modern F1 car generates is absolutely mind-boggling. Not only is it helpful for drivers and engineers to work on improvements, but also crucial for FIA to devise new ways to make the sport safer.