Former Formulation 1 driver Riccardo Patrese has praised Max Verstappen for his old-style preventing and driving” regardless of the Dutchman nearing a race ban as a result of his involvement in varied on-track incidents.
Verstappen has established himself as one of many standout drivers of his technology, together with his 2024 title success drawing him degree with Alain Prost and Sebastian Vettel on 4 world championships.
Nevertheless, the Pink Bull star has additionally attracted criticism for his combative strategy, with each rivals and pundits accusing him of being overly aggressive throughout wheel-to-wheel battles.
His newest controversy got here after a collision with Mercedes rival George Russell, for which he obtained three penalty factors, taking his whole to 11.
He should get via this weekend’s Austrian GP with out stepping into hassle as a way to keep away from a ban for the next race in Britain.
Nevertheless, former Williams, Brabham and Benetton driver Patrese believes Verstappen’s strategy to F1 reminds him of his personal time in F1.
“I feel that for him it isn’t an issue,” the 71-year-old informed Listofsweepstakescasinos.com.
“He does not prefer it as a result of he most likely additionally has a penalty that he did not comply with have. And if it occurs that he loses the license, for positive he goes in his boat and relaxes for 2 weeks to attend for the following grand prix. I do not assume it is a drama for him, for positive.
“In the mean time he’s the one driver that makes old-style preventing and driving because it was in my time. I like this as a result of generally he fights as he must be. And in addition he does not wish to hold his mouth closed. In the mean time all people needs to shut the mouths of the drivers. You can’t say your opinion anymore.
“I do not like this a lot as a result of in case you say one thing a little bit bit completely different you then get penalties and even you need to go and work within the social media.
“So on the finish, I like Verstappen as a result of he is the one one which now’s over all this case, that there are numerous guidelines, numerous penalties, you can’t discuss and so forth. In all probability as a result of it feels very sturdy as a result of he is a four-time world champion.
“So on the finish, he says what he needs and he does what he needs and he could also be preventing, he loses the license, I feel for him it isn’t a drama. He wins one race after which he comes again and possibly he wins the following race.
“Formulation 1 now’s fairly completely different from the time I used to be. All the game has modified. Life has modified. The philosophy now of Formulation 1 is a bit completely different to the philosophy we had within the 70s, 80s, 90s too.
“If I’ve a selection I like extra what I did in my profession with that environment, with that type of racing that was extra real, extra instinctive. Not many guidelines from exterior that in the intervening time actually, possibly generally it’s obscure from my time no less than.”
Having already slipped to 3rd within the constructors’ championship final 12 months, Pink Bull has misplaced additional floor to its rivals in 2025 amid its ongoing aggressive droop.
And whereas each Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda have struggled to carry out within the RB21 thus far, Verstappen has clinched two race wins to strengthen his maintain on third place within the drivers’ championship, behind solely McLaren duo Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
Patrese, who received six F1 races in a profession spanning 1977-93, hailed Verstappen for his skill to extract probably the most out of a less-than-competitive bundle at Pink Bull.
“I feel that everyone has his persona,” he stated. “I had the issue for my aggression initially of the season, the Monza accident and all these tales from the senior drivers.
“When Verstappen got here and he was actually making an attempt onerous to get his place in entrance and he had a criticism about this, in that individual second of his profession when he wished to be fast and win if potential, it jogs my memory of me and the criticisms I had initially of my season.
“From there I can’t examine with Verstappen as a result of he is already an enormous, huge champion. He is a kind of champions that I put in an excellent league the place they’ll make the distinction even when they do not have the successful automobile of their arms.”
