Max Verstappen‘s racing style is starting to look a lot like Alain Prost’s – at least that’s what the four-time world champion himself thinks.
Prost, who battled legendary Ayrton Senna in one of F1’s most famous rivalries, can’t find any real weaknesses in Verstappen’s current form.
“It’s difficult to find any at the moment,” Prost says. “He’s good all round. He’s a very tough driver on the track, but you can’t see that as a weakness.”
The Dutch superstar just grabbed his fourth straight championship in Las Vegas. That’s put him in some pretty exclusive company – he’s now one of just three drivers with four world titles.
If he wins next year, he’ll do something only Michael Schumacher has managed before: five championships in a row.
But 2024 might not be such a smooth ride.
“Next year is another debate,” Prost explains. “We’ve already seen a tightening of performances between different teams. The other teams know that Red Bull is beatable.”
It’s the last season for the current ground-effect cars, which could shake things up. Still, Prost thinks Verstappen’s the man to beat.
What really stands out is how Verstappen’s style has evolved. Early in his career, he was often compared to the aggressive, passionate Senna. Now? He’s showing more of Prost’s calculated approach.
“Max has a lot in common with Ayrton, especially at the start of their careers. Today, a little less so,” Prost says. “When you get to know him a bit, I find he’s close to Seb or to me.”
Not everyone’s convinced about Verstappen’s racing etiquette, though. Recent incidents at COTA and Mexico City sparked plenty of debate about his aggressive style.
But Prost’s particularly impressed with how Verstappen’s handled himself off the track, especially during all the Mercedes rumors and Red Bull drama. “I found him to be very solid,” he notes.
At just 27, Verstappen’s already making history. The question now is: how much more can he achieve?
