Hakkinen: Verstappen "had less pressure" after absence of family

Max Verstappen drove his first weekend without any errors in Canada, and this was also the first time he travelled without his manager and family, which is no coincidence according to Mika Hakkinen.

The two-time Formula One world champion thinks that it's no coincidence that Verstappen did well without having his family and manager with him.

"It was interesting to hear that he did not bring any of his family or manager to Canada," Hakinnen wrote on his column on Unibet.

"Focus is so important in this business, and if you have people talking in your ear or adding to pressure, it is not helpful.

"My friend, the much-missed Dr Aki Hintsa, used to talk to me about the importance of clearing your mind and having complete focus; it’s so important to do that, and I am sure Verstappen will be reflecting on the benefits of being able to concentrate on the team, the car, and nothing else."

The Fin thinks that Verstappen really needed this result to prove to himself that he's still got it. Confidence can be lost quickly when you're receiving as much criticism as Verstappen has.

"Max Verstappen’s podium finish was important for him; he has had a lot of criticism this year, with incidents or accidents in every race, so the result in Canada was really needed.

"He is still a very young guy, only 20, even though this is his 4th season in Formula One, and sometimes a driver can go through a bad patch.

"It happens for lots of reasons.

"Too much pressure, some bad luck, and before you know it a trend or pattern seems to develop!"