Convinced Max is better than me - Jos Verstappen

  • Published on 25 Apr 2016 15:15
  • comments 7
  • By: Rob Veenstra

Mick Schumacher may not experience as smooth a journey towards formula one as did F1 teen sensation Max Verstappen. That is the view of Max's father Jos, who was the F1 legend Michael Schumacher's teammate at Benetton back in the mid-90s.

Verstappen's 18-year-old son, however, made it to formula one before Mick, who is a year younger than the young German who now races in Formula 4. Jos told Auto Bild that he is sure Max is a better driver than him.

"I am 100 per cent convinced that Max is better than me," he said. "He has everything under control. He was better prepared than I was," Verstappen snr added. "I came into formula one and I didn't know anything -- I had to find out everything for myself."

Now, the world's media is predicting a similar rise at some time in the future for Mick. The big difference, however, is that Mick's famous father Michael is still recovering from his 2013 skiing crash. "Mick misses his father of course, as he has a lot of experience. Now Peter Kaiser is supporting him," said Jos.

"I think Mick is someone who needs more time to achieve good results. I have watched him a little and I think he can drive. But he must be given the time he needs. Having the name Schumacher is different to being a Verstappen. I don't think he's as good as Michael, and then it is more difficult still," Jos added. (GMM)

Vet5

Posts: 225

I don't think Verstappen has what it takes to be world champion, maybe in the next 5 years he might have a chance but I think his overall attitude won't take him far. He has had a good car since coming into F1, once all the other teams engines start getting upgraded and STR start falling down the... [Read more]

  • 2
  • Apr 26 2016 - 09:37

Replies (7)

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  • A dad says his son is better than someone else's son. shocker! doze inducing overhype.

    Boring.

    • + 0
    • Apr 25 2016 - 15:51
    • He didn't say his son is better than Mick Schumacher. He say that his son is a better driver than he ever was. The only thing he have sad about Micky is that this youngster need a longer way to reach his full potential because he miss his dad to give him advice. Nothing wrong with that. Just the facts.

      • + 0
      • Apr 26 2016 - 14:47
  • I think Jos is making a fair assessment.
    At this moment Mick is a very good, and promising young driver. But not (yet) a sensation like Max was in F3 or like Ocon was that same year.
    On the other hand. Michael Schumacher wasn't as big a sensation in the junior categories as, for example Senna, or even Jos Verstappen himself, for that matter.
    In fact Michaels F3 opponents Frenzen and Häkkinnen were in the day rated more highly than Schumacher.
    We might indeed have to give Mick some time...

    • + 0
    • Apr 25 2016 - 16:26
  • f1dave

    Posts: 782

    This is getting to be more like the the American racing series where the family name is a stepping stone to a drivers seat.

    • + 1
    • Apr 25 2016 - 16:34
  • Vet5

    Posts: 225

    I don't think Verstappen has what it takes to be world champion, maybe in the next 5 years he might have a chance but I think his overall attitude won't take him far. He has had a good car since coming into F1, once all the other teams engines start getting upgraded and STR start falling down the order then we will see the true colours of Verstappen. I truly believe Sainz is a better driver overall.

    • + 2
    • Apr 26 2016 - 09:37
    • In recent weeks it obviously has become somewhat trendy to say that Sainz is the better driver overall. Based on what?
      The points standings don't lie and at the end of the year there are no excuses for the points difference being as large as it was in 2015.
      This year Max has only made 1 mistake > selecting the wrong engine setting at the start of the last race. He kept his cool, did not make any mistakes, kept out of trouble and managed to turn being 10+ seconds behind his teammate into finishing clearly in front of him. All year Sainz driving style can be discribed as being nervous and he did not keep out of trouble, did he?
      Only one mistake for Verstappen. And no, Max loosing his temper in race one was not a mistake but a proof of his strength: he wants to win.
      Max is faster in the races, doesn't give up, doesn't settle for second best, hardly makes any mistakes, is the better racer and, in the end, brings the results.
      But of course your'e entitled to your opinion (...)

      • + -1
      • Apr 26 2016 - 11:29
  • Vet5

    Posts: 225

    Ofcourse and you are entitled to you're opinion and hold nothing against it. Last year you cannot compare them, Sainz had reliability problems which plagued him a lot more than Vertappen, but I do agree Sainz drives a bit nervous to which we noticed in Australia, we will just have to wait and see who comes out better at the end of the year

    • + 1
    • Apr 26 2016 - 11:41

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Driver profile

  • Team Red Bull Racing
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  • Country NL
  • Date of b. Sep 30 1997 (27)
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  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.8 m
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