League: IndyCar Sport: Motorsports Country: United States Category: Scores & Results

Max Verstappen praised for driving skills amid challenging season

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 8, 2026, 1:01 PM

Last updated Aug 8, 2026

Max Verstappen praised for driving skills amid challenging season

Summary

Max Verstappen received commendation from former IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe for his performance in the 2026 season. Hinchcliffe included Verstappen among his top five drivers, noting his ability to extract results from the challenging Red Bull Racing RB22. While Verstappen has secured multiple podium finishes, he currently trails McLaren's Lando Norris by 15 seconds in Hungary. Hinchcliffe pointed out that Verstappen has consistently outperformed his teammate Isack Hadjar, who has only achieved 62% of Verstappen's points so far. As the second half of the season approaches, Verstappen is 110 points behind Kimi Antonelli in the drivers' standings and is currently on a summer break.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

By the Numbers

•Hinchcliffe ranks Verstappen among top five drivers this season.
•Verstappen finished second in Hungary, 15 seconds behind Norris.
•He has consistently scored more points than teammate Hadjar.
•Verstappen is 110 points behind Antonelli in the standings.
•He is currently on summer break with family.

Latest Updates

1:01 PMYahoo Sports — Verstappen's performance blows analyst away: 'Max Factor is well and truly a thing'

What they're saying

"
Former IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe once again had nothing but praise for what Max Verstappen is capable of getting out of his cars. Among his top five drivers of the 2026 season so far, Verstappen also earned a place alongside Lando Norris, Liam Lawson, Gabriel Bortoleto and Kimi Antonelli.
— Yahoo Sports

Related Teams & Leagues

Red Bull Racing McLaren IndyCar Motorsports