<< Return to the news list

Niki Lauda: "Verstappen is the talent of the century"

Published on 16 May 2016 12:23
5
By: Danny Sosef

Even Dr Helmut Marko's arch rival Niki Lauda on Sunday had to tip his famous red cap to Max Verstappen. As the Mercedes team chairman, Lauda was furious in Barcelona after the collision between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg opened the door for Red Bull's new recruit Max Verstappen to record an historic win.

"I have no answer except to take my cap off," the F1 legend, who still wears a red cap to cover his scars some 40 years after his 1976 Nurburgring crash, is quoted by the German news agency DPA.

"What we are seeing is a talent of the century," Lauda added, referring to Verstappen.

For once, Lauda and his compatriot Dr Marko - the architect of Red Bull's often controversial young driver programme - completely agree.

"It is unbelievable what he (Verstappen) did," Marko told the Austrian broadcaster ORF. "The way he kept the lead with someone like Raikkonen harrying him is incredible."

Writing for Italy's La Repubblica, correspondent Marco Mensura summarised Verstappen's shock breakthrough in Spain by declaring that - like or not the methods of Marko's brutal regime - Red Bull has uncovered a true F1 star.

"Winning a race like this at 18, at a circuit like this, with someone like Raikkonen attacking for 50 laps, not just anyone can do," he wrote.

"Congratulations to him and those who have understood the talent on their hands.

"That said, I would go against the ocean of rhetoric about this guy (Verstappen) to repeat what I have said before: I would have preferred Red Bull to handle this driver change differently.

"Betting on teenagers is good marketing, but from the sporting point of view it produces one Verstappen for every 50 Alguersuari. Sportingly speaking, it is carnage," Mensura added.

RacetoWin

Posts: 95

Schumacher is the Talent of the Century, nobody could do what he did with the lowly Benetton Ford, Ace the Benetton Renault to 2 championships, Drive the Horrible 1996 Ferrari to 3 race wins and 3rd in points when Ferrari was almost Bankrupt. and Leading Ferrari to a Dominant Series of Championsh... [Read more]

3
May 17 2016 - 06:29

F1 News Max Verstappen Lewis Hamilton Nico Rosberg Kimi Räikkönen Mercedes

Replies (5)

RacetoWin

Posts: 95
Schumacher is the Talent of the Century, nobody could do what he did with the lowly Benetton Ford, Ace the Benetton Renault to 2 championships, Drive the Horrible 1996 Ferrari to 3 race wins and 3rd in points when Ferrari was almost Bankrupt. and Leading Ferrari to a Dominant Series of Championships Breaking almost every record in F1. Schumacher could've easily won 10 titles if was not for a broken leg and mechanical failures.

Max Had a Great Race, I'm glad i got to see it without spoilers as you have to watch F1 live or liv like a 1800's hermit avoiding contact with everything until you can watch it on your DVR. Redbull Ferrari Battles will be good to see this year. Max is on his way, he just needs to accomplish alot more before he's called the Talent of the Century.
- + 3
- May 17 2016 - 06:29
- mclarenfan1968
  
  Posts: 1,027
  Yeah people just like to hyperbole just because. Max did what Alonso did to Shumacher at Imola 2005 use the nature of the track to prevent overtakes. Although there Alonso had to really work with the brake tricks and slow Shumacher down in the slow corner exits. Max had no need for such tricks he just stuck to the racing line and his car was only a few tenths slower than the Ferrari in clear air, this made everything easier around a track like Barcelona where you need atleast 1.5sec per lap advantage to make a straightforward pass.
  
  Not to mention Riccardo would have won this race handily had RBR and Vettel? Ferrari not gambled on calling each other's bluffs. Vettel would have merely faced what Kimi endured and taken a close 2nd place.
  + 0
  
  May 17 2016 - 06:58
Wolfgang

Posts: 313
in my opinion Vettels first victory in the rain with a slow toro rosso long before the red bull teams were that good is much more talent-gifted than a race which was decided with a big mercedes error and a ferrari and red bull strategy error.

from the remaining 4 cars (ferrari and the rb´s) ricciardo would have been the one to win. this would´ve been the right and deserved winner, cause he was quickest after the mercs in qualifying. end of story..
- + 1
- May 17 2016 - 12:26
- mclarenfan1968
  
  Posts: 1,027
  Exactly! Vettel took pole and won the race in the wets in a lowly Toro Roso, this race is being overblown beyond reason. Sure he did well to capitalize on the mishaps at merc and RBR essentially handing Ric's win for the taking a silver platter to Ves and Kimi.
  + 0
  
  May 17 2016 - 13:44
calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
I agree with both below: Vettel and Schumacher are more suitable candidates for that title. I was amazed by how Verstappen managed to stay in front of Räikkönen (seriously, was he taking a picnic or something?), but he also lucked out on 3 things: Mercedes took a hike, Ricciardo's race strategy didnt work out, and he didnt have Vettel behind him. Things would've looked quite different without any of these 3 things. If he can keep this up, I'll be impressed, but its far too early to call him talent of the century.
- + 1
- May 17 2016 - 14:00