Max Verstappen is the new F1 star but the world still loves Michael Schumacher

Michael Schumacher is one of the greatest drivers in the history of Formula One. No doubt about it. Lewis Hamilton may have surpassed him in wins and equalled his championship tally, but the German remains a global favourite. That’s why F1 fans are quick to lap up any news about his health.

The world still loves Schumacher. More than 12 years have passed since he vanished from the public eye after suffering a severe head injury during a skiing accident in the French Alps in December 2013. Yet, interest in him remains strong.

Two recent reports caught my eye. Veteran F1 journalist Craig Scarborough, who has interviewed Schumacher multiple times, told The Sun that “we’re not going to hear any more from him.” Grim words.

That came shortly after another emotional comment from Schumacher’s former Benetton boss Flavio Briatore. “If I close my eyes, I see him smiling after a victory,” he told Corriere della Sera. “I prefer to remember him like that rather than just lying on a bed. Corinna [Schumacher’s wife] and I talk often, though.”

It wasn’t a health update, nor did it reveal anything new. Yet it went viral — proof that fans still hold Schumacher close to their hearts. I’m one of them, always on the lookout for any news about his condition. There have been unconfirmed reports that he has been to Switzerland for his granddaughter’s birth. Last year too, there were rumours that Schumacher attended his daughter Gina-Maria’s wedding in Mallorca, Spain.

Such is the interest in Schumacher, even now.

Which brings me to a familiar debate: Was Schumacher the greatest? I don’t want to get drawn into that because such comparisons often miss the point. You can’t compare drivers across different eras. The cars, the technology, the level of support — all of it evolves. If anything, older drivers deserve more credit for succeeding with far less tech at their disposal.

Back to Schumacher. Was he the best ever? I thought Ayrton Senna was. His raw talent and ability to push F1 boundaries marked him as a true genius. His tragic death at the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994 robbed us of a driver who might have ruled the sport for years.

Senna’s brilliance was even more impressive given the level of competition he faced: Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell, Niki Lauda, and Nelson Piquet — all world champions. The intensity was unmatched. Senna and Prost clashed often. So did Senna and a young Schumacher. Compared to that era, today’s rivalries feel tame.

After Senna’s death, Schumacher initially struggled with Ferrari before going on to dominate Formula One for several years. Then came Sebastian Vettel, followed by Lewis Hamilton, who would become the most successful driver in F1 history. With 105 wins and seven titles, Hamilton’s record is formidable — but now Max Verstappen is closing in fast.

Verstappen, with 65 wins and four world championships, is the most feared driver on the grid today. He may end up owning all the records. Still, it’s unlikely he’ll ever reach Schumacher’s cult status.

The world loves Schumacher. His skill, fearlessness, tenacity, and relentless pursuit of excellence earned him 91 wins and seven world championships. But his legacy goes beyond statistics.

A true F1 legend, indeed.