Schumacher echoes Wolff's thoughts on Verstappen: 'He made the difference'

Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher agreed with Toto Wolff, stating that it was Max Verstappen who "made the difference" at the Italian Grand Prix.

The four-time champion raced to his third victory of the 2025 season, dominating proceedings at Monza to win by just under 20 seconds over Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in the McLarens.

After the race at the 'Temple of Speed', Wolff was quick to acknowledge the brilliance of the Dutchman, saying that the 27-year-old made "everybody else look a bit bad, a bit stupid", such was his speed and superiority compared to the rest of the grid.

Max Verstappen's third win of the 2025 season at the Italian Grand Prix saw him reach the top step of the podium for the first time since the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.

Schmacher shares Wolff's amazement over Verstappen's victory

Just like Wolff, Schumacher was extremely complimentary about Verstappen and his stellar weekend at Monza, seeing him take his second win on Italian soil in 2025 after his Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix victory earlier in the season, his second race win of the campaign.

"Red Bull has a relatively small wing, which means they gain tremendously on the straights, braking well, and that was great," Schumacher explained on Sky Sports Germany's Backstage Boxengasse podcast.

"But you have to be honest, and I think Toto Wolff put it best after the race, that Max Verstappen made the difference."

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The German also pointed out that Verstappen's overtake on Norris to regain the lead of the Grand Prix was a psychological blow, with no other driver able to follow in the Dutchman's footsteps.

"Yuki Tsunoda wasn't bad, but that shows who can really handle it. And you have to say, he made everyone look a bit old, Max Verstappen in his Red Bull that weekend.

"Then, the overtaking on Norris [on lap 3, ed.], where he attacked back, that shows just how much he could play with it, because most people couldn't manage that at all when they were in dirty air."