One of the debates that’s constantly had among Formula 1 fans is who is the greatest driver of all time.
The latest driver to add his name to the list of potential candidates is Red Bull star Max Verstappen.
Only a small number of drivers in the history of Formula 1 have won four drivers’ championships, and even fewer have done it consecutively.
Ayrton Senna’s career tragically ended in 1994, having only won three titles.
Williams looked like the team to beat that year, even if Senna had failed to finish any of the first three races, and whether he would have beaten Michael Schumacher that season will never be known.
However, the Brazilian is still the benchmark for many drivers, with Lando Norris recently compared to Senna as he battles for his first championship.
David Coulthard’s Formula 1 career was connected to both Senna and Verstappen, replacing the Brazilian at Williams after his death, and playing a crucial role in the development of Red Bull into a championship-winning team.
He was asked who he would choose between Senna at his peak and Verstappen, and gave a very interesting answer.
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Photo by TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP via Getty ImagesDavid Coulthard says peak Max Verstappen would win over peak Ayrton Senna
Coulthard was asked on The Asa Park Podcast who would win between peak Verstappen and peak Senna in the same car, and he explained: “Well, of course, we’d never know for sure.
“And whatever answer I give is going to alienate and upset those who would pick the other.
“But if we believe in evolution and if we believe that every generation is better than the previous, otherwise we don’t evolve, then peak Max would beat peak Ayrton.
“But I think even Max would want to romantically look to Ayrton as someone who was a sort of guiding star, even maybe for himself, even though Ayrton died before Max was with us.
“I think that he would acknowledge that the fact that he still revered today, 30 years and more after his passing, gives him a star quality
“Max would not want to say, I’m better, because one, it’s pointless. Two, Max is a respectful individual.
Photo by Jay Hirano/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
“Again, like many of these greats, they can be divisive. Ayrton was not everyone’s favourite while he was racing, but he was a very hard, aggressive racer.
“He was prepared, as he said, in Suzuka when they gave pole position on the different side of the track than he thought was fair.
“He said if he wasn’t leading into the first corner, he would crash into Prost. He wasn’t leading, so he crashed into Prost. He was a man of conviction!”
It was then put to Coulthard that people had suggested Senna would win over one lap, but Verstappen would have the edge in a race, and he concluded: “I think Max would accept that, because in the end he wants to win the race, and if he had to defer to the legacy and the name of Ayrton, that seems like a fair place to land.”
READ MORE: All to know about Ayrton Senna including Alain Prost rivalry and Imola crash
How do Ayrton Senna and Max Verstappen’s Formula 1 statistics compare?
There are certain aspects of Verstappen and Senna’s careers where it wouldn’t be fair to compare the two drivers.
For example, Senna scored 610 points in his F1 career, but the change in how points are allocated means that Verstappen’s tally of 3210.5 is insignificant.
Jacques Villeneuve doesn’t think Verstappen compares to Senna because the standard of the drivers around him isn’t as high.
That’s even more difficult to determine, but what can be looked at is the percentage of races won and started on pole position between the two drivers.
Ayrton SennaMax VerstappenGrand Prix entries162223Wins4165Win percentage25.31%29.15%Pole positions6544Pole positions percentage40.12%19.73%Championships3 (1988, 1990, 1991)4 (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)Ayrton Senna vs Max Verstappen Formula 1 careers
(accurate as of 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix)
Verstappen statistically completed the best season of all time in 2023, and despite this season’s struggles, has won 29.15% of his Grand Prix starts.
In contrast, Senna won 25.31%, although it would be interesting to see where that number stood if he had a similar level of teammate to Verstappen when he was at McLaren.
When it comes to pole positions, Verstappen’s 44 poles see him achieve a 19.73% pole position success rate; however, Senna’s tally of 65 means his ratio is far higher at 40.12%.
Only Jim Clark and Juan Manuel Fangio, out of F1’s greatest drivers, can top that, but it highlights the differing strengths between the two racing legends.