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Berger compares Verstappen to Ayrton Senna

Published on 20 Jul 2017 16:54
16
By: Fergal Walsh

Former Grand Prix driver Gerhard Berger has likened Max Verstappen to Ayrton Senna, who is considered one of the greatest in the sport's history. Berger partnered Senna at McLaren for three years and watched Senna take two world titles in their time together.

Verstappen has heavily impressed many since he entered the sport in 2015 at the tender age of 17. Since then, the Dutchman has been promoted to Red Bull Racing and has won his first race. With many thinking of him as a future world champion, Berger has compared him to Senna.

"In my time, Ayrton Senna was by far the best driver, and maybe he was the best driver of all time. Now, Max Verstappen has amazed me with his overtaking skills, especially in the first lap. Other drivers regularly damage their front wing, but not Verstappen. He is from the same mould as Senna."

The Austrian was then asked who was his least pleasant teammate, to which he interestingly replied: "Nigel Mansell. He was nice, but you could not trust him. He asked me how much I earned and when I told him I asked him the same question. He could suddenly not remember what was in his contract.

"The best mutual bond I had was with Senna and Jean Alesi. Jean has a huge heart. His car control was unbelievable. In changeable conditions, he was unbeatable. And yet Jean never managed to win the championship. I think that's really amazing and too bad."

Fergal Walsh

NEXT SPARE VAMP

Posts: 1,874

Rightfully so! Verstaoppen is defintively the greatest talent in 30 years time. Men like Senna and Max only occure twice or thrice during a century, so we'd better enjoy it.

2
Jul 20 2017 - 18:50

F1 News Max Verstappen Giuliano Alesi McLaren Red Bull Racing

Replies (16)

f1dave

Posts: 782
Gerhard Berger has lost it
- + 1
- Jul 20 2017 - 17:31
mclarenfan1968

Posts: 1,027
LOL what? Senile old man, has he become. Tsk tsk.
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- Jul 20 2017 - 18:08
- DutchTreath
  
  Posts: 5,058
  Well, I guess that his cv look more interesting than yours.
  + 2
  
  Jul 20 2017 - 19:35
- Klapband
  
  Posts: 366
  Berger who was at the F3 races of Max and who occasionally can be seen talking with him at the Red Bull garage could have absolutely no clue about how Max compared to his friend Senna who was 3 years his teammate, impossible! /s
  + 0
  
  Jul 20 2017 - 19:54
- mclarenfan1968
  
  Posts: 1,027
  Oh look two fanbois have come out of the woodwork to lick Berger's feet because he said something overtly positive about their preferred driver. Take a good look at Gerhard's business CV and you will know why his comments are nothing more than a salesman telling you what he wants to sell. Former 50% Toro Rosso share holder with still deep business connections with Redbull, Oh but surely there is NO snake oil BS or bias in his comments whatsoever, Right? You must also believe a lot of politicians at face value too.
  
  Bwahaha moron fanboys gotta love em.
  
  Senna was incredible, it is outrageously insulting to even compare some newbie turd with that great man. This kid is just another run of mill brat who whines like his pal Sainz when things don't go well, everything needs to be served on a sliver platter.
  + 0
  
  Jul 21 2017 - 04:22
- Hombibi
  
  Posts: 137
  I don't know if you are right, or if Berger is, but Berger is not the only insider that has made that statement. What's more, it were even the Brazilian fans and commentators that made that such comparisons after last years race.
  + 1
  
  Jul 21 2017 - 09:11
- DutchTreath
  
  Posts: 5,058
  The fact is @ mclarenfan1968, 1) that Berger was the team mate of Senna in the past. So he will know a lot more than you about Senna 2) that Berger was a hell of a F1 driver, so he know how a raw talent looks like if he see one. And this has nothing to do with any kind of fan in here. True fans reorganise a true talent. And yes, some people do see similarities between de driving style of Senna and Max. It's just a personal opinion. Why do you doing so difficult about it?
  + 0
  
  Jul 21 2017 - 20:31
- DutchTreath
  
  Posts: 5,058
  reorganise = recognize
  + 0
  
  Jul 21 2017 - 20:33
calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
Lets not get overboard here. Ves has improved no doubt, but we'll see about the Senna thing when he is in a more competitive car. Not that Im a huge Senna fan, Schumacher any day of the week, but even if he mostly were in the best cars of the grid he was still no doubt a great driver.
- + 1
- Jul 20 2017 - 18:15
NEXT SPARE VAMP

Posts: 1,874
Rightfully so! Verstaoppen is defintively the greatest talent in 30 years time. Men like Senna and Max only occure twice or thrice during a century, so we'd better enjoy it.
- + 2
- Jul 20 2017 - 18:50
Barron

Posts: 625
It's going to be very difficult to make comparisons but there are certain skills that Max seems to have that are seemingly similar to Senna, the main one being an almost unshakeable faith in their own abilities which appears to be inbred. Berger's comparison with Mansell is also interesting as Nigel is from a working class background and mainly funded his own racing career, unlike the 'privileged' backgrounds of Senna & Verstappen. Comparisons are always difficult especially from different generations, but I almost always reserve the most respect for those that did it 'the hard way.'
- + 0
- Jul 20 2017 - 19:28
- f1fan0101
  
  Posts: 1,804
  Senna and Verstappen came from privileged backgrounds, but on a race-track, their talent is undeniable. So to me, it doesn't matter how someone gets there, as long as they have the talent to show they deserve it
  + 0
  
  Jul 20 2017 - 20:00
ajpennypacker

Posts: 2,475
I still get annoyed often by Max's public persona (he has gotten vastly better though), but his ability on track is simply incredible. He is the most exciting thing to come to Formula 1 since Lewis joined in 2007, and Lewis had a super competitive car, Verstappen had a Toro Rosso.
- + 0
- Jul 20 2017 - 21:07
f1fan0101

Posts: 1,804
If Berger says this I believe.. Senna and him were teammates, he can speak for so much more than any of us can
- + 1
- Jul 20 2017 - 22:28
juju_hound

Posts: 180
All I say about Ayrton is quoting another great man:
Well they built the Titanic to be one of a kind, but many ships have ruled the seas
They built the Eiffel Tower to stand alone, but they could build another if they please
Taj Mahal, the pyramids of Egypt, are unique I suppose
But when they built you, brother, they broke the mold
- + 0
- Jul 21 2017 - 08:26
boudy

Posts: 1,168
I followed ver since he moved to single seaters from his first test in wales, winter series in usa, f2 tests, f3. And every time that he races something it goes quicker in his hands. The number of teams that would like to sign him and the way that his is driving against far more expierenced f1 drivers stands out. I find him entertaining in interviews and lets we forget he's only young. I also believe that he is something special. The greatest drivers show up in the rain and he has done this consistantly.

How highly is ric rated? And he is outclassing him this season no matter what the points tell us.

Can't wait for a better engine in that redbull.
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- Jul 22 2017 - 01:56