Verstappen 'direct' F1 approach reminds world champion of Lauda

Max Verstappen's "direct" approach in F1 has led fellow four-time world champion Alain Prost to compare him to Niki Lauda.

Verstappen's no-nonsense approach to grand prix racing has helped propel him to four titles and 63 grand prix wins, with only Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton having more wins and titles, with Juan Manuel Fangio also above the Dutchman on five crowns. 

Prost, who was team-mate to Lauda at McLaren in 1984 and 1985, famously losing out to the Austria in the former by 0.5 points in the title race, believes the Red Bull racer has a similar trait to three-time champion Lauda.

"I never want to talk about or compare the drivers of yesterday with those of today, let me be clear," Prost told RMC Motori when Gerhard Berger's comparison idea of similarities between the way in which Verstappen and Lauda worked were put to him. 

"Max is like Niki in terms of being direct, no doubt about that. When you asked Lauda something, the answer was always honest. 

"Verstappen is, as the English say, he makes an impression with what he says. On the rest, I can't judge."

Prost also touched on Verstappen's success, and insisted it is no problem welcoming a new member of the four-time club he currently shares with Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel.

"Well, it's normal when it's someone like him, a very fast driver who from the first laps showed he had something extra," he added.

"He is a great champion, he has shown he is the best, so sharing four titles with someone like him doesn't create any problem for me. 

"On the contrary, I am sure he will be able to surpass me and in the next few years he will definitely do it."