David Coulthard, a former Formula 1 driver with a successful career at McLaren and Red Bull, has drawn a striking comparison between Max Verstappen and the legendary Michael Schumacher. Both drivers share an uncompromising, aggressive approach when it comes to wheel-to-wheel racing, a trait that has been crucial to their dominance on the track.
Coulthard explains that racing against different drivers requires a tailored approach, but when it came to Michael Schumacher, you knew exactly what to expect. He said:
“You approach different drivers in different ways. Michael may as well have had ‘approach with caution’ written on the rear wing because unless you absolutely got it alongside him, you would expect him to close down the gap. And that was in his racing DNA. I don’t have a problem with the consistent behaviour of somebody. It’s when you’ve got these inconsistent people, the ones that say hello one day, the next day, they ignore you. I struggle with that. It’s like, what is going on with them? Michael was consistent. He was consistently hard on the racetrack. That actually is something that then becomes fun to deal with because you know you’re going to be in your A game if you’re going to beat him.”
This mentality is mirrored in Max Verstappen’s driving style. As the Dutch driver closes in on his fourth consecutive Formula 1 world championship, his approach to racing shows the same unyielding determination that Schumacher was known for. Verstappen’s aggressive style was on full display during his 2021 battle with Lewis Hamilton, where he pushed the limits and raced with precision, notably in key moments like Imola and Spain.
Looking ahead, young Brazilian driver Gabriel Bortoleto, who will join the F1 grid with Sauber next season, has expressed admiration for Verstappen’s skill. As he embarks on his own Formula 1 journey, Bortoleto will no doubt be eager to take on Verstappen and prove his mettle in the highly competitive world of Formula 1 racing.
