Former Formula One driver Johnny Herbert believes Max Verstappen possesses an 'Ayrton Senna aura', similar to that of his title rival Lewis Hamilton, and predicts the Dutchman will secure a world championship in the future.
Herbert, who raced alongside the legendary Brazilian driver, told RacingNews365 that Verstappen's style is reminiscent of Senna. 'I remember Martin Brundle saying that when drivers saw that yellow helmet in their mirrors, it was like 'oh I'll get out of the way',' Herbert said. 'That aura that Ayrton had, Max has and Lewis has got. This battle is brilliant for us.'
The former driver praised Verstappen's rare talent, saying: 'It's damn impressive what he does and it's impressive because it's rare. We've seen it in the past with the great Champions, but this is special at the same time.' Herbert also noted Verstappen's aggressive racing style, stating: 'He's on the edge and some people go 'oh he's on the edge, he's too aggressive', he's not! That's just, I think, what racing is all about.'
Herbert commented on the controversial Silverstone incident, suggesting that written rules sometimes cause crashes when drivers believe they are ahead. He added: 'I used to try to intimidate drivers as much as I could when I was on track and that's exactly what he does, what Lewis does in a different way.'
Hamilton currently leads Verstappen by eight points in the championship. The season resumes at the Belgian Grand Prix at the end of August.
