Max Verstappen uses Michael Schumacher to defend 'dangerous' F1 antics: 'No room for fear'
Max Verstappen has been in hot water following his mammoth 20-second penalty during the Mexican Grand Prix, having clashed with Formula 1 rival Lando Norris twice on the same lap
by Nathan Ridley · The MirrorA typically bullish Max Verstappen has likened his driving style to Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher amid unrelenting criticism following the Mexican Grand Prix.
Verstappen, 27, was slapped with two separate 10-second time penalties in Mexico City for dangerous driving, resulting in a fourth-placed finish. The Red Bull star was penalised after going wheel-to-wheel with McLaren hotshot Lando Norris, who sits 47 points behind Verstappen in the 2024 Drivers' Championship with four Grands Prix and two Sprint races remaining.
Last Sunday's battle followed a clash at the United States Grand Prix earlier this month, which saw Norris receive a hotly-debated five-second penalty and miss out on podium, as well as a string of other incidents involving the reigning champion. Verstappen is under fire ahead of this Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix, also a Sprint weekend, but he's hit back when speaking to German tabloid BILD.
Although controversial, his driving style has been compared to seven-time world champion Schumacher's and Verstappen welcomes the comparison. "I don't care about compliments, I want to win, and I always give everything to do that," he explained.
"I think that's what connects me with drivers like Michael. He also never left anything untried to have the greatest possible chance of success. Both in the car with his driving style and outside when it came to developing the car. There is no room for fear - but you also have to use your common sense."
Ex-F1 champion Damon Hill has been one of the Dutchman's most prominent critics, comparing his driving to 1960s Wacky Races character 'Dick Dastardly' and declaring that Verstappen 'let himself down'. "The aerial footage is very clear," Hill told Sky Sports. "He made no attempt to back off and make the corner and leave room for Lando. It was simply a case of you are not coming through.
"The second move was just daft and Dick Dastardly stuff. He accelerated to the apex and drove Lando off the track and Lando didn't have much option. That was silly driving. Max let himself down there. He has such brilliance, and such competitive spirit, but I don't think that was something to be proud of.
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"It is possible to race fairly, and that is something I am not sure Max is capable of. It is not in his repertoire, it is not in his philosophy. His philosophy is you are not coming past.
"They say that sport doesn't build character, it shows character. And his default is to revert to preventative methods rather than trying to keep it within the bounds of fairness. You shouldn't be allowed to use your car as a weapon and simply block the track."
Recent incidents involving Verstappen have fuelled the debate over F1's driving regulations. Following his and Norris' clash in the US, the FIA have reportedly made the decision to come up with a revised wording to cover the specifics of the pair's incident. They plan to present it to the drivers for approval at the upcoming Qatar Grand Prix.
Mercedes driver George Russell, meanwhile, claimed that '19 of 20 drivers' were willing to change the regulations immediately as opposed to waiting until 2025. "I think the stewards are totally on board with what needs to change," Russell told reporters on Sunday.
"Our view is, I think that the biggest discussion is they wanted to wait until '25 so it's something consistent through this year. I would say 19 out of 20 drivers said, 'well, if it's incorrect, make the change today'. I'm glad to see those incidents were punished today and I suspect, moving forward in Brazil, what we saw today and what we saw last week, you won't be able to get away with."
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