The 2021 Formula 1 season inadvertently introduced the entire motorsport community to an era of Red Bull and its greatest treasure, Max Verstappen. Lewis Hamilton threw almost everything, including the kitchen sink at Verstappen in the hopes of defending his throne. But, the Dutchman portrayed immense resilience to keep the seven-time world champion at bay, subsequently announcing his reign to the throne.
Now, two years into the new-age dominion, Verstappen has only grown stronger, to the extent of being compared to one of the sport’s greatest, Michael Schumacher. The German racing legend is a celebrated figure across the motorsport industry, let alone F1.
Max Verstappen’s 2023 Formula 1 season so far:
🇧🇭 – P1
🇸🇦 – P2
🇦🇺 – P1
🇦🇿 – P2
🇺🇸 – P1
🇲🇨 – P1
🇪🇸 – P1
🇨🇦 – P1
🇦🇹 – P1
🇬🇧 – P1
🇭🇺 – P1
🇧🇪 – P1👑
🦁 pic.twitter.com/bPCwWmPXSC— Verstappen News (@verstappenews) August 1, 2023
Having accomplished massive records over his prolonged racing career, Schumacher has often been the benchmark for other drivers, until, of course, Hamilton joined the frame. Verstappen is seemingly traveling on a similar path and is en route to crushing if not all, at least some of Schumacher and Hamilton’s F1 records.
Hence, amidst such an incredible career in the making, former F1 world champion, Mika Hakkinen managed to decode the reason behind Verstappen’s success, consequently unraveling one of the biggest similarities between Verstappen and his idol, Schumacher.
Mika Hakkinen reveals why Max Verstappen is capable of emulating Michael Schumacher’s F1 success
As reported by RacingNews365, Hakkinen reckoned that Verstappen is devoting his life to racing, much like the former Ferrari great. “Michael Schumacher. He was undoubtedly an incredible F1 driver. His dedication to the sport… racing was his life! It wasn’t an ordinary job, not an ordinary hobby, but it was his life. Exactly that’s what I see in Max as well: it’s his life,” he said.
Mika Hakkinen compares Verstappen to Schumacher:
“Michael Schumacher. He was undoubtedly an incredible F1 driver. His dedication to the sport… racing was his life! It wasn’t an ordinary job, not an ordinary hobby, but it was his life. Exactly that’s what I see in Max as well:… pic.twitter.com/vWjRECs4Gy
— RBR Daily (@RBR_Daily) August 4, 2023
“He [Max] thoroughly enjoys what he does. When he’s not in a race car, he’s either driving in the sim or testing and developing things. By doing that [sim, testing/developing things], he’s not just learning, for example by finding new racing lines or braking later, but you can also develop your brain better.
“Discipline, learning new things about yourself: making yourself better. The only way to do that is practice, practice, and stay hungry for winning!” the ex-Finnish F1 driver concluded.
Verstappen is evidently pushing himself to be a perfectionist and has often showcased that on the track this season by making almost zero mistakes. Hence, with just ten more race weekends to go following the summer break, will Verstappen manage to deliver his first-ever Formula 1 season without an incident this year? Only time will tell.