Max Verstappen compared to two F1 legends as main difference with Hamilton highlighted

Max Verstappen prevails in world title shoot-out

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Max Verstappen has been compared to legendary F1 drivers Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher after winning his maiden championship this year. The Red Bull driver tasted glory after winning the final Grand Prix of the season in Abu Dhabi.

After starting 2021 with just one win from the first four races, Verstappen dominated much of the F1 season and held a 32-point advantage by July.

But title-rival Lewis Hamilton showed his mettle as he enjoyed a strong end to the campaign and, after winning in Brazil, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, the Briton set-up a winner-takes all showdown in the desert.

Hamilton looked set to win a record eighth championship as he led in the latter stages of the final race.

But Verstappen eventually overtook on the final lap after he was allowed to pull level with his nemesis for a one-lap shootout after the safety car has halted the contest.

Verstappen looks set to dominate the sport for the next decade and has now been extolled by F1 hero David Coulthard.

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“He’s an exceptional human – an exceptional athlete,” the Scot told Channel 4.

“He’s brilliant and divisive. Who else do we know that’s brilliant and divisive? Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher, to name but a few. So some have been able to do it.

“In fairness to Lewis he’s been able to win an amazing amount of championships in a very clean way. He hasn’t really had too much controversy.

“With the might of Mercedes and Lewis, Max has had to arguably come with a different approach.

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“His approach is, whenever there is a door partially open, he’ll go for it.

“And Lewis has to keep opening up the door because he knows he’s coming and that’s got in the psyche of Lewis.”

Verstappen showcased his ability to keep his cool during the high-octane season-climax earlier this month.

And Coulthard has lauded the 24-year-old for his attitude on the track.

“Max has had to fight for it and has been a winner all the way through, skipping some of the lower formulas to come into Formula 1,” Coulthard added.

“He fears nobody. That’s not a part of his psyche. The thing that I find most impressive is, if there’s a gap, he goes for it. There’s not even a doubt.

“When I was racing, I used to weigh up ‘should I risk it now, should I not risk it’. He just goes for it. It really is quite special.”

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