Damon Hill thinks Max Verstappen has copied a Michael Schumacher trait that could win him the title

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Red Bull driver Max Verstappen is one race away from matching one of Michael Schumacher’s most impressive Formula 1 records.

If Max Verstappen wins the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and Lando Norris fails to finish on the podium, then he’ll become only the second driver in F1 history to win five consecutive titles.

Michael Schumacher is the only man to achieve that before him, dominating the sport between 2000 and 2004.

Who is going to win the 2025 Formula 1 drivers’ championship?

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A rule change alongside the combination of Renault and Fernando Alonso was the only thing that stopped Schumacher’s run from continuing, and while Verstappen once had a 104-point deficit to make up this season, McLaren have done everything in their power to bring him back into contention.

Martin Brundle has hailed Verstappen’s ‘mind games’ going into the final race of the year, but his fellow former driver, Damon Hill, has spotted another strength in the 28-year-old.

Hill has previously been critical of Verstappen, but can’t help but call him ‘ridiculously good’ after his comeback this season, and made a very apt comparison to his legendary rival, Schumacher.

READ MORE: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

Max Verstappen ‘immersed’ in racing like Michael Schumacher, says Damon Hill

In an interview with The Times, Hill said: “It’s very easy, when you’re a young driver, to think that you know how to do something.

“It takes a great deal of humility to look at yourself and say you can be better.

“[Juan Manuel] Fangio used to say you have to believe you’re the best but always think you can do better, and that’s what I think Lando has shown and what Oscar [Piastri] is having to find out or resolve within himself — because he’s either had a lot of bad luck or something has gone missing.

“And, all the time in the background, you’ve got Max out there showing everyone up.

“Frankly, he’s ridiculously good… Max is very much in the Schumacher mould. He’s very immersed in what he’s doing, in the same way Michael was.”

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about F1 legend Michael Schumacher from net worth to career stats

Damon Hill gives his take on Red Bull after Christian Horner

One of the biggest changes that has taken place in the paddock this season was Red Bull’s sacking of team principal Christian Horner.

Laurent Mekies has insisted that since his arrival, he’s not had an impact on the team, but Verstappen’s late championship charge begs to differ.

Speaking about Horner and his Red Bull exit, Hill explained: “It will be interesting to see how it changes now that Christian [Horner] has left [Red Bull].

“I think he was very strong on trying to manipulate the narrative, and I think that backfired on him really [when he was sacked in July]. But anyway, it was constant from Red Bull’s side. They wanted to control everything.”

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“It wasn’t very edifying. It wasn’t good for Formula 1, it wasn’t good for Christian, it wasn’t good for anyone, really. It’s a good thing that it’s over.”

Mekies has praised Verstappen for taking control of set-up decisions within the team, and has found that giving the Dutchman more responsibility is paying off.

That plays into the suggestion from Hill that he’s becoming more and more like Schumacher, who was a huge influence behind the scenes at Ferrari.

In the next week, we’ll discover whether he’s also capable of copying what many would argue was one of his greatest achievements in racing.