Max Verstappen compared to Michael Schumacher after Italian GP F1 “mind games”

Former F1 steward Johnny Herbert has likened Max Verstappen to Michael Schumacher for his or her use of “thoughts video games”.

Verstappen returned to the highest step of the F1 podium on the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday, his first victory since Imola.

The Dutchman dominated the race from pole place, beating McLaren’s Lando Norris by over 19 seconds.

It was a welcome return to kind for Verstappen after an inconsistent run of outcomes.

After the Hungarian Grand Prix, the place he completed ninth, Verstappen declared he wouldn’t win one other F1 race in 2025.

Only a month later, Verstappen stormed to his third victory of the season.

Chatting with Journey Players, Herbert advised that Verstappen was taking part in “thoughts video games”.

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“The qualifying efficiency was not a shock as a result of that is what Max does. Max is all the time switched on when that chance comes his manner,” Herbert mentioned.

“I do know he had commented not so way back earlier than the break, that he most likely wasn’t going to win a race once more this yr. That’s the basic type of factor Michael Schumacher mentioned along with his thoughts video games, Now it’s Max Verstappen.

“There are occasions that really you and the automotive appear to return collectively and you’ll be able to get these race wins like he has achieved up to now this yr. Monza was that basic state of affairs. The automotive was good, or ok, McLaren had been barely off the boil like they’ve been at Monza earlier than due to the traits of the automotive.

“It’s most likely higher aerodynamically when it comes all the way down to utilizing it in medium to excessive velocity corners. You do not actually have these there. It is all about blasting down the straights and being as environment friendly and quick as you possibly can.

“There was all the time an outdoor likelihood if somebody received it proper then I feel they had been positively within the combat they usually had been positively in a scenario the place they had been going to have the ability to beat McLaren. Throw Max into the state of affairs, there’s all the time going to be that likelihood.”

Pink Bull ‘listening’ to Verstappen extra

One main issue behind Max Verstappen’s resurgence was his low-downforce setup gamble.

Verstappen ignored the recommendation of Pink Bull technical chief Pierre Wache, choosing much less downforce than advised.

It labored out as Verstappen clinched pole and the victory, with a dominant efficiency.

“One factor that struck me was that Pink Bull appear to have listened to Max greater than they have been doing earlier than,” Herbert defined.

“It is all primarily based on knowledge and the free apply that they had on Friday after which that is how they got here up with a setup for that Sunday and the technique.

“However there appeared to be just a little bit extra emphasis on Max and I like that as a result of I feel that is a vital a part of what a driver’s job most likely as soon as was and it is much less so these days.

“As soon as once more it proves {that a} driver’s enter continues to be one thing that is essential. It labored and it labored very properly. He had just a little little bit of a combat going into flip one after which after that was mainly it. He managed the race from that time on.

“His qualifying drive was a typical Max on his sport. The best way he did it was merely a ‘Wow’ issue. It was sudden however that is the place that particular Max continues to be a large risk.”