Horner compares ‘sensitive’ Verstappen to Hamilton

Christian Horner has claimed Max Verstappen is "more sensitive" of criticism than he might appear to be, whilst comparing the Dutchman's approach to racing to F1 greats.

The Red Bull team principal believes some of the negativity the 27-year-old receives is "unfounded", defending his style by drawing parallels to some of the most-celebrated drivers in the history of the series.

Verstappen claimed his fourth-consecutive F1 drivers' championship at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, elevating him to the same plane as Juan Manuel Fangio, Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton.

However, he has also come under fire at points in the year for his driving standards and often-robust approach to wheel-to-wheel racing.

It is the first time he has faced such intense scrutiny since his ill-fated championship fight with Hamilton in 2021.

In particular, he came under fire for his close combat with Lando Norris at the United States and Mexico City Grand Prix, with critics admonishing him and claiming he has not changed in the heat of battle.

Given Verstappen's emotional reaction to winning his latest drivers' title, despite the healthy lead he enjoys over the McLaren driver as the season comes to a head, Horner was asked if the negative coverage got to him more than was realised.

"He's more sensitive than you think," the 50-year-old replied to media including RacingNews365.

"The criticism, inevitably he's aware of it, and some of it, I think, is very unfounded."

In defence of the newly-crowned champion, Horner compared the way he races to Ayrton Senna and Schumacher, as well as old foe Hamilton.

He argued that each came under a similar pressure during their own careers to illustrate that Verstappen is not alone in having his racing standards questioned.

"He's a driver that drives aggressive - he's an attacking driver," he added.

"But so was Senna, so was Schumacher, so was Hamilton, and they all came under the same kind of spotlight at various times in their careers."