Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft makes true feelings about Max Verstappen clear

David Croft, the iconic dependable of Formula 1, said Max Verstappen deserves much praise for a "brilliant" season, contempt not possessing the fastest car, predicting him to seal the rubric successful Las Vegas

Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft has hailed Max Verstappen a "genius" and "one of the champion drivers to contention successful Formula 1" arsenic the Dutchman bids to triumph the rubric successful Las Vegas this weekend.

Verstappen is gearing up to assertion his 4th consecutive world title astatine the Las Vegas Grand Prix connected Sunday - knowing helium lone has to bushed McLaren rival Lando Norris to assertion his latest triumph.

Norris has battled hard with Verstappen this play but the Brit precocious admitted helium "wasn't ready" to vie with the Red Bull star, needing 3 much points than his rival conscionable to support the title alive.

And Croft, the iconic dependable of F1, said Verstappen deserves much praise for a "brilliant" season, contempt not possessing the fastest car - predicting him to seal the rubric successful Vegas, saying the "phenomenal" operator should get the plaudits if helium does so.

"If helium wins successful Vegas again, arsenic helium did past year, and goes connected past to triumph the title, brilliant. Well done Max Verstappen, what a fantastic performance," helium said connected Sky Sports' F1 Podcast. "And to beryllium satellite champion successful a twelvemonth wherever he's intelligibly not successful the fastest car, it's a brilliant, superb season.

"He is simply a phenomenal driver. Let's conscionable walk a infinitesimal oregon truthful saying [that] Max Verstappen [is a] genius driver, fantastic satellite champion, deserves to beryllium a 4 clip satellite champion, and - if he's got the car adjacent twelvemonth that tin vie - volition surely beryllium a 5 clip satellite champion successful the making.

"One of the champion drivers ever to contention successful Formula One and we should not fto thing other detract from that. I deliberation helium volition triumph it successful Vegas, I deliberation it volition beryllium done and dusted determination and what amended spot to deed the jackpot than successful Sin City?"

His comments travel aft Norris candidly admitted helium didn't person capable successful the vessel to conflict Verstappen for the title, saying helium near it excessively precocious to airs a genuine threat.

He said: "I astir apt wasn’t outright acceptable to spell up against Red Bull and Max. I deliberation I americium present now. But it’s astir apt excessively late. Max is 1 of the champion drivers ever successful F1. To spell up against that idiosyncratic who is truthful bully takes a spot much than what I person done this season. But since the summertime interruption it is adjacent to what it should be.

"I was decidedly not astatine the level I request to beryllium astatine the opening of the year. Since the summertime break, I consciousness I've done a precise bully occupation and performed precise well, by acold immoderate of my champion performances.

"I americium not wholly blessed with what I’ve done but for the archetypal clip I consciousness I person got what it takes to combat for the championship."