Max Verstappen after his pole position in Monza - Red Bull Contentpool

Parallel drawn between Verstappen and Schumacher: 'They have the same genes'

20:36, 14 Sep

byOlly Darcy

Former team principal Franz Tost explained that Max Verstappen and Michael Schumacher "both have the same genes", comparing the two once again.

Those who put in effort go further; the others can forget it.

- Franz Tost

The Austrian took over as team principal of Toro Rosso in 2005, holding that position until he retired from the world of Formula 1 in 2023.

At the junior team of Red Bull, Tost saw many talented drivers come and go, including the likes of Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo. Still, Verstappen was a driver that the Austrian spotted as a special talent from an early age.

Franz Tost worked alongside Max Verstappen when the Dutchman started in F1 in 2025 | Credit: Race Pictures

Verstappen and Schumacher make the most of setups

Since then, Verstappen has gone on to win four world titles between 2021 and 2024, catapulting himself into the conversation as one of the greats of the sport.

The work from the 27-year-old regarding car setups has been a skill that has distanced him from the rest of the drivers on the grid.

That was also a skill that Schumacher demonstrated during his time in the premier class of motorsport, and as a result of that, Tost sees yet another comparison between the two title winners.

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"He only cared about the car's setup. In Fiorano, they let him do laps to test the durability of the engine, and so on," Tost said on ServusTV, explaining the details Schumacher used to go into while working on car setups.

"He only cared about the setup because he knew that was the distinguishing factor in performance. That's why they're so successful. They fully understand the car. And there [in Monza], Max delved into the details, just like Michael."

"This is why they are successful. They both have the same genes. You can already see this with young drivers. Those who put in effort, go further; the others can forget it."