Max Verstappen has recreated the same mentality Ayrton Senna used to with rival drivers, Sky Sports commentator Martin Brundle has claimed.
The Dutchman has become known for his aggressive and uncompromising style when battling wheel-to-wheel and the impact that has had on his fellow competitors was highlighted by comments made by Lewis Hamilton last weekend in Austin.
With a championship on the line, the Briton admitted he gave Max a wide berth when they fought for second place in the closing laps, something that saw him run wide at Turn 18 and ultimately lose out on wrapping up the title with three races to go.
“He’s brilliantly established himself in the psyche of others to be approached with caution. Just as Ayrton Senna did,” Brundle, who competed against the Brazilian in F3, said of Verstappen in his Sky Sports column.
“I’m surprised Lewis admitted in the press conference that he’d given Max too much space, it only underlined the hierarchy on this matter.”
The former McLaren driver isn’t disappointed, however, at the rivalry that is building between the established veteran who is set to become a five-time champion and the 21-year-old prodigy.
“You can never have too much Lewis v Max, and the young Dutchman won this encounter with clever placement of his car, and not the late change of direction tactics he used in his early F1 days,” Brundle added.
“We may well see some flying carbon fibre as drivers try to mark their territory in future.”
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Something that is very unlikely though, is the pair ever becoming teammates with Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko ruling out the possibility at the Milton Keynes outfit at least.
“You have to have some sort of harmony in the team,” the Austrian told the British broadcaster.
“At the moment they are the two drivers with the biggest ego. That would be more than a challenge to the team.”