Max Verstappen is just like Michael Schumacher

Daily Mirror

2 days ago

The more I watch Max Verstappen, the more convinced I am that he truly is the second coming of Michael Schumacher in Formula 1. Sadly, I mean that in ways both good and bad. In terms of both his talent and temperament.
Anyone who tries to deny he is one of the greatest racers F1 has ever seen is not to be taken seriously. They're probably just trying to belittle his achievements because of tribalistic fandom – there are plenty who will never forgive him for denying Lewis Hamilton an eighth crown in 2021.
But Verstappen's most staunch defenders, those who claim the Dutchman can do no wrong and that any Brit who offers a critical word is blinded by nationalism, are equally deluded. Because there remains a part of the four-time F1 champion which remains impetuous, unsportsmanlike and simply infuriating.
And it reared its ugly head in Spain on Sunday. Once Max saw red there was nothing stopping him and, suddenly, he had banged wheels with George Russell. We can't say for sure that it was deliberate, but his response of: "Does it matter?" when asked if it was spoke volumes.
And the data paint a pretty clear picture, too. Telemetry from Verstappen's car in the moments leading up to that collision shows that he lifted off and braked on the run down to turn five, seemingly allowing Russell by, as he had been instructed to do by his Red Bull race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase.
But then he hits the throttle again heading into the corner and you didn't need the telemetry to see what he was doing with his steering. Even watching on from outside the car, it seemed pretty obvious that he consciously understeered to the point he banged wheels with Russell.
"What the f***?" was the Brit's response over the radio. It was a question thousands of others watching on from home would have asked, too. In that moment, anyone who might have believed that being a four-time title-winner and a new father might have changed Verstappen was swiftly disabused of that notion.
Russell was right when he said it was a shame that a driver of Verstappen's calibre and standing also has an unfortunate knack of setting a horrible example for young racers everywhere. But he's just like Schumacher in that regard.
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We often look back at the German's F1 career with a romantic view and newer fans to the sport in particular may only be aware of his remarkable accomplishments and status as the only other seven-time champion alongside Hamilton in history. But he too had an unsportsmanlike dark side – he won his first title by ramming Damon Hill at Adelaide in 1994, and that's just one example.
Verstappen is cut from the same cloth. He's the best F1 driver of his generation and one of the very best ever who will do anything to win, even if it crosses the line. That's why he'll probably be booed again by some fans at the British Grand Prix next month – assuming he doesn't do anything at Red Bull's home race in Austria a week earlier to ensure he doesn't have to make the trip to Silverstone.
But will it tarnish his legacy, when Verstappen one day decides to retire? Based on how Schumacher is viewed nowadays, probably not.