How Verstappen reminded one F1 boss of Senna’s finest hour

Haas F1 boss Ayao Komatsu has detailed how a young Max Verstappen’s performance in the 2016 Brazilian Grand Prix reminded him of Ayrton Senna’s most iconic drive.

Back in 2016, Verstappen was still just in his second grand prix season and had just turned 18 as torrential rain battered Interlagos, leading to red flag periods.

Once the race got underway, Verstappen scythed through the field, including a memorable overtake on the title-chasing Mercedes of Nico Rosberg around the outside of Turn 3, whilst he also saved the Red Bull from a head-on collision with the barriers climbing the hill.

The drive was regarded as Verstappen’s greatest in F1, until his victory at the same venue eight years later, that effectively secured his fourth title from 17th on the grid.

Reflecting on the drive, Komatsu compared it to Senna’s famous drive at the 1993 European GP at Donnington Park where he went from fourth to fifth to first on the opening lap for McLaren.

“I remember at Interlagos, it was really wet, and he just drove around everyone, going through wet lines, but it was like you are racing against, I wouldn’t say amateurs, but it was like somebody in a different category,” Komatsu exclusively told RacingNews365.

“It is like Senna at Donnington when he went to P1 and just drove around everyone like he was on a different tyre, but Max did it exactly the same.

“He drove past everybody like the other guys were not F1 drivers.

“It is amazing and also his mental strength as well, I’ve never worked with Max, but whenever I hear about his ability for him to be able to drive the car on the nose shows the amazing talent he has got.

“On top of that, he doesn’t get too affected by people trying to bully or to put him in a box or whoever is trying to pressure him.”

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