Max Verstappen might not win any popularity contests, but his raw talent is undeniable. That’s the message from former F1 star David Coulthard, who’s getting tired of seeing the Dutch champion’s abilities questioned just because some fans don’t like his personality.
“It amazes me that someone’s personal feelings about him can cloud their judgment of the facts,” Coulthard told Planet F1.
The facts? They’re pretty clear. Verstappen is one of the fastest drivers Formula 1 has ever seen.
And let’s be honest – being controversial isn’t exactly new in F1. Coulthard points out that legends like Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher weren’t exactly choir boys either.
“Yes, he’s controversial,” Coulthard admits. “But show me a really successful F1 driver who wasn’t.”
The only exception might be the drivers from the 60s and 70s, but as Coulthard jokes, “as old as I am, I wasn’t around then, so I can’t really judge.”
What really got Coulthard fired up was Verstappen’s recent performance in Brazil. It wasn’t just good – it was in a league of its own.
“His drive in Brazil was a lesson to all the other drivers. It was on another level,” he says.
And here’s where Coulthard gets really serious: “If somebody can’t acknowledge that and say ‘That was brilliant,’ then they have a problem. They have a prejudice problem, which is what causes so many problems in the world, doesn’t it?”
It’s hard to argue with that logic. Love him or hate him, Verstappen’s talent behind the wheel is something special.
