Formula 1’s Managing Director of Motorsport Ross Brawn has heaped praise on Max Verstappen after his victory at the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix stating that he reminds him of seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher.
Brawn helped engineer Schumacher over the course of their time together at Benetton and Ferrari in the mid-1990s and 2000s and achieved almost unparalleled championship-winning success.
They would also work come together again in 2010, in the early days of Mercedes, laying some of the groundwork for what the team has acheived to date.
On Sunday, the Red Bull driver rose from fourth on the grid and put Mercedes under pressure, with the reigning champions’ predicament accentuated by tyre difficulties.
He went on to prise the lead away from Valtteri Bottas shortly after his first pit stop and cycled back to the lead when the off-set Lewis Hamilton made his second stop.
“Max was simply sensational at Silverstone,” said Brawn.
“He reminds me of Michael Schumacher in many ways. When you listen to his radio, he’s clearly got spare capacity.
“The limit of the car is not the limit of Max Verstappen. He is able to feel the subtlety of the car and respond perfectly. I remember Max’s early days in Formula 1 where his speed was clear – he has now matured into an exceptional racing driver.
“I loved his radio, particularly when he said he didn’t want to “drive like a grandma” when the team asked him to manage his tyres. It shows huge confidence and a relationship in the team, which is very strong.”
