Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen can confidently say that he’s entered the pantheon of Formula 1’s greatest ever drivers.
Not only has Verstappen won more races than every driver except for Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher, but he’s done so at an age that could allow him to go on and break every record in the sport.
Verstappen does benefit from there being far more races on the calendar than in previous eras of Formula 1, but he also has to compete against some phenomenal drivers to add to his impressive victory tally.
There are plenty of attributes that the finest F1 drivers all share, and the likes of Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc are trying to develop those skills.
Verstappen’s best season trumps even Schumacher’s best year in F1, such is the dominance he’s proved he can establish in the right car.
Red Bull are struggling with Verstappen’s car this year, so much so that Liam Lawson has already been dropped, having failed to get to grips with the RB21.
Aside from just their levels of talent, Verstappen and Lawson have very different approaches to racing, so much so that the Dutchman has already been compared to Schumacher and the great Ayrton Senna.
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Max Verstappen compared to Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna
Dutch commentator Nelson Valkenburg was speaking to F1 Maximaal about his interactions with Verstappen.
Talking about how each driver goes into a race weekend, Valkenburg said: “I find it incredibly clever that, in the world of Formula 1, where everyone just thinks you should behave this way and that, you can be so yourself.
“And that you are comfortable with that. He didn’t come into this world to please everyone, but he is working with a very clear purpose.
“I don’t know anyone who makes it so simple for himself, so straightforward, and that he doesn’t deviate from that. I have a lot of respect for that.
“If you look at all that is asked of you. An autograph here, a photo there. It’s non-stop.
“The fact that he wants to go sim racing afterwards, because he wants to, and he doesn’t care what anyone thinks about that…. He’s just very pure.
“He is completely himself, and that makes it extra beautiful for me.
“It’s so impressive to see someone like Senna or Schumacher working like that with blinders on to achieve what he wants to achieve.”
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Max Verstappen produced an Aryton Senna-like performance for Red Bull last season
Verstappen has always made his feelings clear with the media on certain topics, and this has earned him plenty of fans over the years.
Hamilton and Verstappen have agreed on the introduction of V10s in the future of the sport, while the Dutchman made his feelings clear about George Russell at the end of last year after their feud in Qatar.
However, the 27-year-old is similar to Senna and Schumacher on the track as well.
| Max Verstappen | Michael Schumacher | Ayrton Senna | |
| Grand Prix starts | 211 | 306 | 161 |
| Pole positions | 40 | 68 | 65 |
| Podiums | 113 | 155 | 80 |
| Wins | 63 | 91 | 41 |
| Championships | 4 | 7 | 3 |
Verstappen’s drive in Sao Paulo was reminiscent of Senna after going from P17 to comfortably winning the race, demonstrating his unbelievable talent.
Martin Brundle recently compared Verstappen to Senna, and it’s hard to ignore the similarities in their driving style and straightforward communication style.
He’ll hope that once his career ends, he’s regarded in the same way as Schumacher and Senna as one of the sport’s greatest-ever racers.
