F1 News: Max Verstappen Has "Unprecedented Mental Solidity"

Max Verstappen's third world title achievement in Qatar and a display of high-level dominance throughout the season have brought him to the list of all-time greats in Formula 1. Italian journalist Fulvio Solms describes his "unprecedented mental solidity" to be more than Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton.

With six races still left to spare this season, Verstappen took his world champion title during the Sprint Race in Qatar on Saturday after Esteban Ocon and Nico Hulkenberg crashed into his teammate Sergio Perez, thus causing him to end the race with a DNF.

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The Dutch driver is now a part of the top league of racing luminaries like Nelson Piquet, Ayrton Senna, Jack Brabham, Jackie Stewart, and Niki Lauda with three championships to his name. Being with the best, several Italian papers spoke highly of him, some even going further to call him an “insatiable cannibal” on the tracks.

But, the remarks of Fulvio Solms in the Corriere dello Sport stood out the most as he described a quality of Verstappen that separates him from legends like Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton. Calling the 25-year-old driver "ruthless," he wrote:

“Ruthless like no one. I’ve never seen a driver like this and it’s true, but he was also lucky enough to drive one of the strongest cars ever to appear on the track. Perfect combination of two factors and then unprecedented mental solidity. More than Schumacher and Hamilton, who have won seven titles.”

It is yet to be seen where this ruthlessness takes him in a few years since he has already covered almost half the distance in beating Hamilton's record of seven titles. Of course, with all teams presumably following the RB19 route for their cars, we could witness a tighter grid and a closer battle next year. But, that wouldn't deter the three-time champion from being ruthless yet again.

F1 News: Max Verstappen Becomes Three-Time Championship In Qatar Sprint Race

Former F1 driver Nico Rosberg also claimed that Verstappen was inching closer to the elite club of F1's all-time greats. Talking to Crash.net, he said:

"It’s really historic. The level Max is driving at, and the records he’s shattering – simply unreal! He’s nudging towards the elite club of the Fangios, Schumachers, Sennas, and yes, Hamiltons.”