Max Verstappen handed Michael Schumacher 'gene' praise

Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher has praised Max Verstappen for being "decisive" in leading Red Bull last season, believing he has the same "gene" and "aura" as his brother, Michael.

It was a wild 2025 for Verstappen, who had to deal with major leadership changes within the Milton Keynes-based outfit.

Christian Horner, who had been team principal since the very beginning of the squad’s existence, was axed after Silverstone and replaced by Laurent Mekies.

The European part of the season was turbulent for Verstappen and Red Bull, not only due to the leadership changes but also because of an underperforming car.

It was not until a new floor was fitted at Monza that the Dutchman’s dominance returned, although he still fell two points short of a record-equalling fifth consecutive drivers’ title.

According to Schumacher, Horner’s exit clearly had a major impact on the team, which found itself playing catch-up to McLaren.

"You could clearly see what happened at Red Bull," Schumacher told F1 Insider. "Helmut Marko said it himself: people decided too late to send away Christian Horner. 

"As a result, there was chaos within the team for a long time, until the car became so good again that Max could win with it." 

Verstappen and Red Bull's unity

Once Mekies had settled into the role and upgrades were introduced, Verstappen was near unstoppable in the second half of the year, winning seven of the final nine rounds.

He led Red Bull supremely, creating a sense of self-confidence within the camp that it could pull off the unthinkable and catch Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

Ralf Schumacher sees similarities between Verstappen and his brother. Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher led Ferrari to five consecutive drivers’ and constructors’ titles from 2000 to 2004, before Fernando Alonso secured back-to-back championships.

Schumacher and Ferrari were often unstoppable, with the German uniting the entire team in the same way Verstappen does at Red Bull.

"What has emerged from that is otherwise quite remarkable," added Schumacher. "The team has grown into a real unit, especially with Laurent Mekies and the team of engineers around Verstappen. 

"Max is someone who can get an awful lot out of a car, we've seen that in comparison with Yuki Tsunoda or Liam Lawson. But it was nevertheless a great team performance.

"And Max has changed that. He has been able to bring that extra something, that skill and that aura that Michael also had. 

"He can unite, lead and take a team around him. The fact that people will walk through fire for you is decisive. Verstappen now also has that Michael gene."