Max Verstappen responds to Red Bull rising star being labelled his successor

Max Verstappen has addressed Red Bull junior Arvid Lindblad being hailed "the next Max Verstappen", with the highly-regarded 17-year-old being touted as a future F1 driver.

Currently racing his rookie season in F2, the British driver is sixth in the standings and took part in his first FP1 session for the Milton Keynes squad at the British Grand Prix.

Lindblad was afforded the opportunity despite his young age after the FIA awarded him a super licence exemption after accumulating enough points to compete in F1.

The hype surrounding him has come attached to considerable anticipation and lofty expectations over what he can achieve once he gets to F1.

However, Lindblad is determined to chart his own course, not merely emulate the Dutchman.

"It’s obviously very cool to be associated with a four-time world champion. But on the other hand, I want to be the first Arvid Lindblad, not the next Max Verstappen," he defiantly told The Times.

Verstappen himself echoed those thoughts when it was put to him that the Campos Racing driver could be his second coming.

The 27-year-old was effusive in his praise of Lindblad and also credited his team's academy for how it is handling the young driver's development.

"He raced for my best friend's go-kart team, so I already had a bit of information on him, and he's great," Verstappen said to the media, including RacingNews365. "He's very fast, and he just needs to do it step by step.

"I think the way that Red Bull is also preparing him is good. He just needs to do his thing.

"Being labelled as the next Max, he should just be himself. That's what you need to focus on. I think that's also what he knows how to do.

"He has good people around him who are like a mentor to him. So, yep, step by step. I'm happy for him. He's doing well. Let's see what happens when he eventually can get into F1."