F1 driver Max Verstappen said on Friday that it is wrong to make comparisons between his career and that of former Ferrari and F1 champion Michael Schumacher.
Schumacher won seven world championships and holds the all-time race record for the category with 91 victories.
“We are very different drivers. I think that when people make comparisons, it is not really nice. Michael won every year since 1991 or 1992. I started last year, so we are definitely two different races. The idea that one is comparable is totally wrong. I’m going to fight for titles in F1 for many years,” Verstappen said at the Singapore Grand Prix.
Verstappen also said that he has been inundated with fan mail from fans in Singapore. “I’ve had a lot of letters from Singapore, more than in Barcelona [as a world championship champion there] because everyone lives here,” he said.
Verstappen won the Formula One F1 Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday to move one ahead of five-time champion Sebastian Vettel for the second most victories at that track with seven.
“I’m so grateful for the support, I don’t know how I managed it. It’s nice to hear it all. They put me in all the old races they watched and that’s quite cool,” Verstappen said.
Verstappen thanked Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton, who had joked earlier in the week, on Twitter that he only sent the Dutchman one text message when asked to speed up his “slow entrance.” “I do take the time for each race but I’m more demanding than everyone. I was really surprised by Lewis’ tweet. I couldn’t be more grateful for Lewis, the respect is there,” Verstappen said.