Former Formula 1 team boss Eddie Jordan is gloomy for the contemporaries of world champion Max Verstappen. The eccentric Irishman expects the Dutchman to remain dominant in the coming years, and thinks his challengers will have to come from a good family to beat Verstappen over a whole season. Jordan also tells in the Formula For Succes podcast which Verstappen agemate he thinks is most likely to take on this difficult challenge.
Jordan himself owned Jordan Grand Prix from 1991 through 2005, and saw his team win four Grands Prix during that time. The 75-year-old Irishman had, among others, Michael Schumacher, Damon Hill, and Rubens Barrichello under contract, and Jos Verstappen also once tested for Jordan. The former team owner expects reigning world champion Max Verstappen to surpass even Michael Schumacher. “I honestly believe that Max will eventually become the best driver ever,” Jordan said. “He has such a phenomenal attitude in the car. He’s aggressive when he needs to be aggressive, he’s tough when he needs to be, but he’s also smart.’
As a driver, Verstappen is of course also dependent on his material, and that has also been good at Red Bull Racing in recent years. “He knows how to take care of the car, but he has something else that works in his favor. He must hope, especially after the death of Dietrich Mateschitz, that the team remains as strong as it is today. With people like Christian (Horner, ed.) and Adrian (Newey, ed.), I don’t foresee any short-term problems, and I only see Max getting stronger,” said the Irishman. “I wouldn’t want to be a driver in Formula 1 now with the ambition to become world champion, because I wouldn’t know how to succeed.”
Surprising relationships at Mercedes
Jordan was also asked which contemporary of Verstappen he sees as the main challenger for the future, in which he has to admit an error of judgment. ‘I was wrong when it comes to George (Russell, ed.). I saw him driving for Williams, and I had my doubts about him when they promoted him to Mercedes, but he completely blew my mind.” ‘I was completely wrong. I never expected that he could beat Lewis (Hamilton, ed.), but I was wrong. I never thought he would pull this off. So I think Lewis needs to consider another move, he needs to get out of there. He has to take a new step in his career, just like McLaren, he has to leave Mercedes. It’s high time you reinvented yourself somewhere else, Lewis.’
