“More Like Uncle Michael”: Max Verstappen Reveals He Never Attributed GOAT status to Michael Schumacher

Max Verstappen has opened up on the special relationship he shared with seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher. Max, who is the son of former F1 racing driver Jos Verstappen, often referred to Michael as his “uncle“. This is because the Verstappen and the Schumacher family shared a close bond with each other and also went on holidays together.

In an interview, Verstappen stated that he remembered a few such holidays and the interactions he had with Schumacher. The 25-year-old stated that even though the 54-year-old is one of the all-time greats of the sport, he never saw him in this fashion.

“Never saw him as a record world champion“: Verstappen on Schumacher

While speaking to f1-insider.com about the special relationship he shared with Michael Schumacher, Max Verstappen recalled his childhood and said, “I was three or four years old then. All I knew was that it was Uncle Michael. Who was very nice. Who was an extremely big family man. But I never saw him as a record world champion“.

Verstappen reveals that he never saw Schumacher as one of the best in the sport because he was too young at the time to understand any of this. After heaping praise about Michael, Verstappen also complimented the Schumacher family.

He stated that he has “positive memories” of the weekends that he spent with the Schumacher family until “this day“. Verstappen stated that the two families often went karting together. He stated that Michael would drive with Mick or Gina and that Jos would drive with him.

Max Verstappen reveals why Mick Schumacher had more pressure than him

Even though Max Verstappen and Mick Schumacher successfully made it to F1, the two have so far had contrasting fortunes. The Dutchman is already a double world champion at the age of just 25 and is on track to win his third title this season.

On the other hand, Schumacher does not have a race seat this campaign after two disastrous seasons with Haas. One of the many reasons that the two have had such differing fortunes is the pressure that has been on both of them from a very young age.

mick schumacher and max verstappen 🫶🏻 pic.twitter.com/K4NTC7ob5E

— lily⁴⁷ (@_itsnotlily) May 15, 2023

Verstappen suggested the same point during his interview with f1-insider.com. The Dutchman explained how the two also had very different childhood experiences. Verstappen believes that since Mick was the son of a seven-time world champion, there was always far more pressure on his shoulders from a very young age.

Verstappen believes that when the press surrounds a driver at such a young age, they are already at a “difficult starting point”. However, the 25-year-old did state that he is confident that Mick will succeed because of the “good people” he has around to take care of him.