Max Verstappen has predicted a tough road to formula one for another son of a famous former driver.
The young Dutchman was 17 when he made his sensational grand prix debut last year — the same age that Mick Schumacher is today.
Verstappen’s father Jos, who was once the great Michael Schumacher’s teammate, caused a stir last week when he said young Mick is not as good as the seven time world champion.
"I have only seen Mick in karting," Max told Bild am Sonntag newspaper.
"His situation is difficult. He has such an incredible amount of pressure, because his father was so successful in F1. Whatever he does, whatever mistake he makes, the cameras are on him.
"It’s not easy for him but he’s doing it well so far. But going in the footsteps of his father is really not easy — he is the greatest of all time," Max added.
Another hurdle for Mick, according to young Verstappen, is that Michael is currently not able to help him on the hard path to F1.
"Of course Mick is missing his father on the way to F1," he said. "He is a great personality and could have given him important contacts. It is a shame that Michael cannot support him at the moment."
In contrast, things could hardly be going better for young Verstappen, in his second F1 season and now tipped to move up to a top team for 2017.
"It is definitely better than if no one is talking about you," he smiled when asked about the apparent interest of Mercedes and Ferrari.
"But the fact is that I feel very comfortable here. My relationship with Red Bull is excellent. But next year I want to be on the podium, that’s for sure."