Former Mercedes team boss praises Verstappen: 'You just have to admit that'

Max Verstappen has been the 2021 Formula One world champion for over a week now. Everyone has something to say about the controversial race in Abu Dhabi. Opinions are divided, but there are many words of praise for the single world champion.

Norbert Haug is the former F1 team boss of Mercedes between 2010 and 2012. That was during the period when Mercedes chose to offer Lewis Hamilton a contract. The German has been with Mercedes-Benz since 1990 and was succeeded by Toto Wolff after 2012.

At Austrian broadcaster ServusTV, Haug analyses the end of the season in Abu Dhabi, where the Dutchman beat Hamilton in the closing stages of the race for the world title. Haug praises Verstappen as a driver.

Verstappen is a special driver

"One thing is clear: Max Verstappen is very, very special. He makes incredible actions that usually end well. He rarely makes mistakes and the number of errors has also dropped significantly", he says.

There were several times this season with the controversy around the defensive actions of the Dutchman. "You just have to admit it", Haug concludes when emphasising that Verstappen is a special driver.