F1 analyst sparks debate, this rookie currently is outperforming Verstappen

Jack Plooij sparked surprise in the Ziggo Sports studio after claiming that Gabriel Bortoleto is currently performing better than Max Verstappen. Fellow Formula 1 analyst Olav Mol was taken aback by the statement and quickly responded.

“I only have three names,” Plooij began, before revealing his ranking, with Max placed in third.

“Well, I totally disagree with you on that,” Mol replied. “But fine, I have got Lando Norris in my list.”

Plooij then added, “I still put Max in the top three because I think he is doing incredibly well. He’s so mature now, and of course, he keeps producing fantastic results with a car that supposedly can’t.”

'Bortoleto better than Verstappen'

Plooij ranked Sauber rookie Gabriel Bortoleto in second place. "But he’s not better than Max Verstappen, is he?" Mol asked. "I think he is at the moment," Plooij replied. "From my experience, when I see what he does with that car…"

Mol, still seemingly puzzled, concluded with a light remark: "Okay. It’s nice that we don’t always agree."

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Who else is on Mol and Plooij's list?

Mol had placed Verstappen at the top of his list, describing the Dutchman as the best driver of the first half of the Formula 1 season. In his view, the Red Bull star edged out Oscar Piastri, whom Plooij had ranked first.

In the championship standings, Piastri trails Verstappen by 61 points. Lando Norris is also in contention, sitting just 15 points behind his McLaren teammate. However, despite being so close in the points, Norris did not feature in Plooij’s top five drivers of the first half of the season.