Max Verstappen vs Michael Schumacher: Why German great still the benchmark for dirty driving

Telegraph

2 days ago

In Telegraph Sport' s most recent Formula One driver ratings, I wrote that Max Verstappen was channelling Michael Schumacher in the 1990s. This was in reference to his ability to compete in a car that was not the fastest.
In Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix, he took this imitation to extremes by petulantly crashing into George Russell's Mercedes. Clearly, both champions possess immense talent, but also the tendency to cross the line in high-stakes moments.
After Verstappen's latest misdemeanour we list, compare and analyse the most famous and controversial incidents from each man to assess whether it is Verstappen or Schumacher who has a worse reputation for their on-track antics.
Schumacher vs Hill, Australian Grand Prix 1994
The first significant black mark of Michael Schumacher's F1 career came in the season-deciding Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide. Heading into the race, Benetton's Schumacher led the Williams of Damon Hill by a single point in the standings.
Running first and second in championship order on track on lap 36, Schumacher made a mistake at the East Terrace corner and hit the wall, heavily damaging his Benetton. Hill did not see this but did see Schumacher rejoining the track. He tried to take his opportunity by putting his Williams up the inside at turn six.
Schumacher was having none of it. He took the corner almost as normal, crashing into Hill before tipping up onto two wheels, sliding into the barriers and retiring. The damage to Hill's car was enough to put him out of the race, meaning Schumacher became champion. Written off by many at the time as a racing incident, Schumacher can clearly be seen looking in his mirrors to see where Hill was. Inexcusable driving.
Schumacher vs Villeneuve, European Grand Prix 1997
In Ferrari colours this time, Schumacher faced another rival at Williams in 1997: Jacques Villeneuve. Once more, he led by a single point heading into the final round, this time at Jérez. On lap 48 Villeneuve saw an opportunity when Schumacher left the door wide open on the run down to turn six.
The Canadian dived up the inside of the Ferrari. Yet again Schumacher drove the corner as if his competitor was not there, slamming his front-right tyre into Villeneuve's left sidepod.
Unlike in 1994, this time, Ferrari slid impotently into the gravel trap, becoming beached and retiring. Justice was not yet served, though, as Villeneuve still needed to score two points. He finished third, claiming a maiden title. Schumacher was eventually disqualified from the championship – a fair punishment for an incident that tainted his reputation further.
Michael Schumacher led Jacques Villeneuve by a single point going into 1997's final race...
We saw one of #F1 's great season finales! #HistoryAwaits 🍿 pic.twitter.com/2RpGDopTng
— Formula 1 (@F1) December 7, 2021
Monaco Grand Prix qualifying, 2006
By 2006 Schumacher had racked up a record seven world championships. But 2005 was a fallow year, with Renault's Fernando Alonso taking the honours in a season during which the Ferrari driver won just a single grand prix. The following year was different, as the apprentice took on the master in closely matched machinery.
As it is today, qualifying was of supreme importance in Monaco. With two seconds left on the clock and on provisional pole ahead of Alonso, Schumacher appeared to overcook it at the Rascasse hairpin, stopping on track. The yellow flags came out. That meant Alonso had to slow, compromising his final flying lap and robbing him of a chance to snatch pole.
Schumacher claimed he stalled accidentally. The stewards disagreed and sent him to the back of the grid. Alonso won the race the next day with Schumacher fifth.
Masterclass para asegurarse la pole en Mónaco
Michael Schumacher aparcó accidentalmente el coche en la rascasse de Mónaco, impidiendo así a los demás pilotos cerrar su vuelta y evitando que le quiten la pole 👏 pic.twitter.com/homNQrldpe
— MarioRZ (@mariorz_) December 30, 2024
Schumacher vs Barrichello, 2010 Hungarian Grand Prix
While a motorbike accident and three seasons out may have dimmed Schumacher's abilities somewhat, his ruthlessness was as strong as ever on his Mercedes return.
Fighting for 10th with his old Ferrari team-mate Rubens Barrichello in Hungary, Schumacher squeezed the Williams on the pit straight, leaving him barely a foot from a concrete wall at 180mph. 'He should be black-flagged for that… it was horrible,' was the Brazilian's initial reaction from the cockpit.
Yet again Schumacher maintained his innocence. Yet again the stewards disagreed, handing him a 10-place grid penalty for the next race. Sir Jackie Stewart said it was 'one of the most blatant abuses of another driver' that he had ever seen.
Verstappen
Verstappen vs Hamilton, Saudi Arabia 2021
In a scene that was repeated numerous times (see also Monza) throughout a season that was high in intensity and even higher on controversy, Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton were battling for the lead towards the end of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the penultimate race of the season.
First, Verstappen appeared to run Hamilton off the outside of the track at turn one as the Briton attempted an overtake. Hamilton called him 'f------ crazy, man!', with Verstappen being told by his team to surrender the lead and give the place back 'strategically'.
Taking that advice, Verstappen decided to let Hamilton pass on the back straight before reaching the DRS detection line. This would give him a high-speed advantage over the Mercedes on the pit straight. Hamilton was clearly not expecting this and ended up slamming into the back of the Red Bull when it slowed dramatically.
'He just brake-tested me!' Hamilton cried on the radio. Verstappen was trying to be smart and failed, but this was not exactly dastardly. Still, Hamilton crossed the line first and Verstappen finished second, even after a 10-second penalty for the crash.
VERSTAPPEN BRAKE TESTS HAMILTON!!!! #F1 #SaudiArabianGP pic.twitter.com/lp00V3UUeV
— Mr Matthew F1 (@NotMrMatthewF1) December 5, 2021
Verstappen vs Norris, Austria 2024
The first flare-up of Lando Norris and Verstappen's rivalry took place in Austria, after a tense duel for the lead over numerous laps. Following a couple of botched attempts to take the lead, Norris tried to brake later on the outside of the turn-three hairpin, but was forced wide by Verstappen, who appeared to move across the track in the braking zone, squeezing Norris to the outside.
The Red Bull's rear-left tyre touched the McLaren's rear right on the way into the corner. Both men picked up punctures. As Norris tried to make his way around the outside, Verstappen ran him wide again.
On the run down to turn four, Verstappen again did his best to keep Norris – who was carrying a five-second penalty for exceeding track limits – behind, forcing the McLaren onto the grass. Norris eventually retired with enormous damage to his car caused by the failing tyre, while Verstappen finished fifth after a 10-second penalty for causing a collision.
It's a 10 SECOND PENALTY for Max Verstappen for causing a collision with Lando Norris! ⏱⚠ pic.twitter.com/zf0eHYl5mY
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) June 30, 2024
Verstappen vs Norris, Mexico 2024
Austria was not the last clash between the pair that season. While Verstappen was firm but most likely fair in his battle with the Briton in Austin, the same cannot be said of what happened a week later in Mexico City. Defending third from the McLaren, Verstappen first forced Norris onto the grass at the second chicane, with Norris keeping the position.
Verstappen then took it upon himself to right that perceived injustice. He did so by dive-bombing the McLaren at the high-speed turn seven, carrying far too much speed to take the corner. Norris, on the outside, took evasive action and lost the place. It was fortunate there was no crash. There was, however, a 10-second penalty for the Red Bull driver for each incident.
New angles of THAT Verstappen-Norris clash in Mexico 🇲🇽👀 pic.twitter.com/ptYIouJCpV
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) October 29, 2024
Verstappen vs Russell, Spain 2025
Slowing down to appear to let the Mercedes of Russell through – as his team had instructed him to do – Verstappen then accelerated towards turn five and crashed into the side of the Mercedes. It certainly looked more blatant and intentional than anything in his career, and definitely more inexcusable.
Verstappen's antics on Sunday are in some ways the most egregious of these instances, largely because of how inexplicable it was. He did not do so when defending or trying to gain a position, but did so after slowing and then carrying such excessive speed into the corner that the only route was playing dodgems with Russell.
Max Verstappen is told to let George Russell through and then the two collide! 😲 pic.twitter.com/SpNBwLoGaj
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) June 1, 2025
Verdict
In some ways it is difficult to compare across eras. Schumacher drove (largely) in a different time to Verstappen. It was a period when every minor incident did not warrant a stewards' investigation and where 'racing incident' was often the outcome, even if one driver was clearly more to blame.
Yet there are many similarities in their respective approaches to driving as well as their ability behind the wheel. Namely a win-at-all-costs ruthlessness. Fairness rarely comes into it and neither does contrition or apology. Quite often when they have wronged, they feel they have been wronged themselves.
That said, there are a few differences between how Verstappen and Schumacher have operated, even in their most damning moments. Verstappen is clearly a driver who wants to use the literal interpretation of the racing guidelines to his advantage. His concern is primarily with keeping the position, but also doing that by getting as close to crossing the line as he can without actually incurring a penalty. Sometimes it looks smart, sometimes it looks ruthless and other times it looks unfair.
Schumacher was different – he too often drove like the line did not even exist. It is difficult to look at any of the above examples of Verstappen at his worst and conclude that they are worse than even the weakest of Schumacher's transgressions.