Max Verstappen had a ‘horrible reputation’ as a young driver according to Johnny Herbert (Image: Getty)
Johnny Herbert has recalled “horrible reputation” during his first season in Formula One. The former driver has drawn parallels between Verstappen and his former team-mate Michael Schumacher, who also had an aggressive approach on the track.
Verstappen spent large periods of his formative years with the Schumacher family and likely took advice from the F1 legend. Verstappen’s father, Jos, also drove alongside Schumacher and recently revealed that he passed on tips to his son.
Herbert believes a teenage Verstappen’s reputation in F1 was “horrible” due to his style. But his approach has since been harnessed to replicate Schumacher’s ability to maximise situations on the track.
“I think those types of comments that Michael Schumacher may have spoken to about would stick with you. But I know Jos Verstappen would still be making sure that he doesn’t forget them at the same time,” Herbert told .
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“I think he’s used so much on how Michael worked within a team to make the maximum step in the group that we’ve got today, the strength that he’s got and has had since a very, very young age from when he first got into Formula One.
“And I always remember when he did his first season in Formula One, he got this horrible reputation of driving people off the circuit, being a hard racer. ‘And he was like, well, hard racing is what it’s all about’. You don’t put people in the wall, you push them onto the grass.”
Jos Verstappen recently revealed that he made sure to pass on Schumacher’s tips to his son. Jos struggled to match the icon’s pace when they both drove for Benetton and he made sure Max never replicated his mistakes.
Jos Verstappen learned from Michael Schumacher (Image: Getty)
“Michael Schumacher was a team-mate of mine at Benetton at the time. He was the best driver in the team and incredibly talented and fast. Especially during the race I aimed to be as fast as him,” Verstappen Snr told F1 Insider.
“But due to my lack of experience at that time, I couldn’t do that. That’s why I made mistakes. Sticking my head through the wall was my goal. I advised Max to avoid this mistake.”
Verstappen Jnr will attempt to win his fifth consecutive World Drivers’ Championship title this year despite speculation that might not have the fastest car.