Berger: Verstappen is the calibre of Ayrton Senna

History shows that Berger was teammate to the great Senna at McLaren for three seasons -1990,1991 and 1992 - the pair becoming good friends in the process.

Berger told Speedweek: "Verstappen is the calibre of Ayrton Senna therefore nobody will be able to get past Max at the moment. Talent like that comes along maybe every 30 years. The boys that catch my eye are [Oscar] Piastri, [Lando] Norris, and [George] Russell too."

Verstappen is not only destroying the opposition every weekend, he has also exposed Red Bull teammate Perez's shortcomings with the sister car. In qualifying at Zandvoort, on Saturday, in conditions the Mexican veteran typically has thrived in, Max was 1.3 seconds faster when i mattered in Q3.

In the race at Zandvoort, the #1 car simply outclassed the second Red Bull as it had done in the eight previous races. Berger pointed reckoned: “Pérez has no mental or other problem. He's a normal driver at a good average but his teammate is an exceptional talent.

"If Sergio is intelligent, he will find himself another team where he can break the deadlock and show his performance. But he will never be able to consistently beat Max. "If there were a real rival for Max, the gap might be a little smaller but the difference is still Max and the car.

"The lead is so glaring that others only come closer on a day when they themselves get it right or RBR may not be ideally positioned for once. But even then, Max pulls coals out of the fire," added Berger.

Of his former team, Berger said: "The updates on the car really worked. McLaren is currently the second strongest force. Mercedes isn't as bad as it looked at Zandvoort because of their strategy. But you also have to point to the performance of young Norris and Piastri at McLaren are top drivers."

As for his other former team Ferrari, Berger observed: “You have to be fair, because it’s difficult to judge from the outside. I think that Ferrari was technically better positioned last year than in 2023. I was not happy that they did not try to keep Mattia Binotto, perhaps as technical director, and that Fred Vasseur handed over the sporting leadership."

After stints as Toro Rosso F1 team principal, two decades ago and stint recently as DTM Director, Berger is no longer involved in racing directly: "I have no offers and no intentions to take on a new job in racing. I opted out and am happy.

"I'm doing what I set out to do: take care of my businesses and my family. If I want to get a taste of motorsport, I go to the go-kart track with Johann," revealed Berger, referencing his young son's taking to karting.

After winning his home Dutch Grand Prix for a third time in a row, Verstappen heads to the Italian Grand Prix aiming to win ten races in a row, a feat never achieved in F1. He currently is tied on nine wins with former RBR hero Sebastian Vettel.

A third F1 world title is also a mere formality. The only question now is: How and when will this crazy streak end?