Former Formula 1 world champion Kimi Räikkönen has once again praised Max Verstappen, reflecting on the Dutchman’s arrival into Formula 1 during his second spell with Scuderia Ferrari.
“Verstappen! I saw him arrive in F1 during my second stint at Ferrari,” Räikkönen said, as quoted by journalist Leo Turrini, when asked who is currently the strongest driver on the grid.
“Max is a phenomenon. He won his first race in Spain right in front of me, ten years ago. There I realised a star was born,” the former F1 driver added.
The 2016 Spanish Grand Prix remains one of the defining moments of modern Formula 1 history. Verstappen won on his debut for Red Bull Racing and became the youngest race winner in F1 history.