F1 News: Max Verstappen Likened To Michael Schumacher - "Ability To Drive Subconsciously"
Former F1 driver Johnny Herbert has drawn intriguing parallels between F1 legend Michael Schumacher and the current drivers' champion Max Verstappen. Herbert's observations shed light on the innate driving prowess that sets Verstappen alongside the likes of Schumacher, emphasising a natural talent reminiscent of F1's greatest.
Key Takeaways:
- Johnny Herbert's Analysis: Herbert highlighted Max Verstappen's remarkable ability to drive with an almost subconscious skill set, a trait shared with legendary drivers like Michael Schumacher, Nigel Mansell, and Ayrton Senna. This quality, according to Herbert, marks Verstappen as a rare talent in the racing world.
- The Essence of Natural Ability: The discussion delved into the concept of innate driving talent, where Herbert reminisced about Mika Häkkinen's exceptional natural ability. This segment of the conversation underlines the critical role of inherent skill in reaching the top of F1 racing.
- Verstappen's Consistency and Skill: Herbert praised Verstappen for his consistent performance and profound understanding of the car and the track, equating his precision and consistency to the iconic prowess of Schumacher. This consistency, Herbert argues, is what makes Verstappen's talent so exceptional and rare.
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Johnny Herbert, whose F1 career spanned from the late '80s to the early 2000s, is well-recognised for his insightful analyses stemming from his rich racing experience.
Three-time champion Max Verstappen has already carved out a significant place for himself in the annals of F1 history with his aggressive driving style and strategic acumen on the track. Herbert's remarks:
"Adrian Newey said Max has an ability to drive almost subconsciously.
"It is a zone the likes of Michael Schumacher, Nigel Mansell and Ayrton Senna were all in. Those world champions had the ability to do something special. I always thought the rawest natural ability was Mika Häkkinen. He had that uncanny ability not to think about it.
"These people just got into the car, drove and enjoyed it. That’s an important part of it. It is the feeling of knowing where you are on every single millimetre of the track and also to know where that grip is at that particular millimetre. That is something Max is able to do, every single lap. It is the consistency to do it every minute of every single weekend.
"That is the rare thing, the hard thing. It is not anything you think, it is just there. It is unbelievable how it happens. You just do it. That is why he is very special."
Thank you to Mega Dice for setting up this interview.