Max Verstappen claimed a commanding victory at the recent Italian Grand Prix, finishing 19.2 seconds ahead of the competition, marking the largest winning margin of the season. This impressive performance won the admiration of Ferrari’s passionate tifosi, who celebrated enthusiastically as Verstappen stood atop the podium.
Although Verstappen remains under contract with Red Bull until the end of 2028, discussions have emerged about his potential future with Ferrari, where he could replicate the historic impact made by Michael Schumacher.
Eddie Irvine Sees Verstappen as the Next Catalyst for Ferrari’s Revival
Eddie Irvine, Schumacher’s former teammate, believes Verstappen possesses the qualities needed to restore Ferrari to dominance in Formula 1. Irvine draws parallels between Ferrari’s current situation and the period when Schumacher first joined Maranello, emphasizing how Schumacher’s arrival triggered a significant rebuild of the team’s personnel and formula.
“Back in my day, you had Michael [Schumacher] come, he was seen as by far the fastest driver,”
Irvine said in an interview with Sky Sports F1.
“Because of that, Rory Byrne came, Ross [Brawn] came, and that whole team was built around the fact that Michael was another world.”
He continued,
“A bit like Verstappen is now, where if Verstappen went somewhere, he could take a lot of people. Without the whole system together, everyone’s, you know, at the same level. It’s tough, Formula 1’s tough.”
Irvine highlighted the sacrifices Schumacher made to join Ferrari despite the team’s poor performance at the time.
“Michael gave up a lot, like Michael probably gave up two, three, maybe even more world championships to leave Benetton to go [to Ferrari]. Because the first few years, people have no idea how bad it was at Ferrari.”
He further remarked,
“Michael, he knew there was no point for him. He was so much better than everyone else. He just decided, ‘I’m going to go there. I’m going to see what I can do,’ which was amazing.”
Irvine also reflected on the challenge Schumacher faced before Ferrari returned to winning ways.
“And he got there. But people forget, it took four years. He was always in the vicinity, but it was just that you could see he was driving the wheels off the thing to try and be there. So, it was very easy for it not to happen.”
Comparing Hamilton’s Late Move to Ferrari with Verstappen’s Potential Timing
Irvine also commented on Lewis Hamilton’s planned move to Ferrari in 2025, suggesting it might occur too late to maximize influence. At 40 years old, Hamilton is approaching the twilight of his career, while Verstappen is still in his prime at 27—the same age Schumacher was when he made the decisive switch to Ferrari.
“I would love Verstappen to come to Ferrari,”
Irvine stated.
“I think the two of them together would be sensational. I hope he doesn’t leave it too late like Lewis did.”
The Importance of Verstappen’s Potential Decision for Ferrari’s Future
Verstappen’s career trajectory and potential decision to join Ferrari could shape the team’s prospects for years to come. Mirroring Schumacher’s path, the Dutch driver could bring key technical and support staff with him, creating a foundation for Ferrari to reclaim its status as a dominant force in Formula 1.
As the sport continues to evolve, Verstappen’s move would not only fulfill many fans’ hopes but could also ignite a renewed era of success for the Prancing Horse. Until then, Verstappen’s performances, like his recent overwhelming win at Monza, maintain intense anticipation about the future direction of both his career and Ferrari’s ambitions.
