Ecclestone swaps Prost for Verstappen on 'best F1 driver ever' list

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Former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone saw it all over his six decades in the sport, a period during which racers like Juan Manuel Fangio, Jim Clark, Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher reigned supreme.

Ecclestone long held four-time world champion Alain Prost as the zenith of his driver hierarchy. However, at the spry age of almost 93, it seems that Mr. E has shifted gears on his rankings.

Now, he's tipping his hat to Max Verstappen as the new kingpin of the all-time best list.

Of course, it's all in good fun, as comparing racers from different generations is like trying to decide whether a classic vintage wine or a modern craft beer is superior – both have their unique flavors, and personal taste plays a massive role.

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So, while Ecclestone's latest pick might raise a few eyebrows, it's all part of the age-old debate that keeps F1 enthusiasts engaged and entertained.

"Max is the best driver ever," he told the Daily Mail recently. "No doubts.

"I used to say Alain Prost. Now I would say Max. He’s the greatest. He is brightest with regards to getting the best out of the car. He doesn’t muck around. He gets right on the programme.

"In my list he is above Lewis Hamilton."

Ecclestone's change of heart is a bit of a surprise, given that he's known for being a bit stuck in his ways. But it's also refreshing to see that he's willing to change his mind when presented with new evidence.

Bernie also offered his ten cents on the differences between arch-rivals Hamilton and Verstappen, a "racer who just races".

"Lewis is obviously super-super bright, super-super talented," he said.

"Lewis understands people and gets the best out of them, whereas Max gets the best out of the car. He’s very different from Max.

"When Lewis stops racing, he can get into a different world — entertainment or whatever — but that won’t be the way Max could go.

"I’ll tell you Max is one of us. In our sphere of Formula 1 nobody is like Lewis, nobody is."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.