Fernando Alonso has hailed Max Verstappen as the best Formula One driver since Michael Schumacher. The 26-year-old Verstappen only needs to score three points in tomorrow’s sprint race in Qatar to be assured of a third consecutive world title with six grands prix remaining. Asked about the Dutchman’s achievements, double world champion Alonso omitted to include Lewis Hamilton in the highest step of his rankings, saying: ‘(Max is) with Michael maybe, yes. He’ll keep adding championships, so we will compare him to Michael even closer in the future.’ Hamilton, like Schumacher a seven-time world champion but the all-time record race winner on 103, said of Verstappen: ‘I wouldn’t rank him.

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