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Max Verstappen 'calm' amid Ayrton Senna comparisons

Max Verstappen says that he is determined to keep his feet planted amid comparisons with the great Ayrton Senna.

Max Verstappen has said that he is determined to keep his feet planted amid comparisons with the great Ayrton Senna.

Many believe the young Dutchman's performance in Brazil was the best in Formula 1 since Senna's amazing display in similarly wet conditions at Donington in 1993.

Indeed, F1 legend Niki Lauda, who is team chairman at Red Bull's arch rival Mercedes, hailed Max's performance when talking to his father Jos after the race.

"He does not do it very often, so it's very nice to see that he did it towards my father," Verstappen told the Dutch media at a sponsor event in Amsterdam.

What really triggered the Senna comparisons was the way that Verstappen, 19, abandoned the usual racing line at Interlagos as he searched successfully for more grip.

"I was already trying many different racing lines behind the safety car," he confirmed.

"It was a bit like karting, only in a bigger car, but at the limit, sliding and slithering."

As for all the talk of him being Senna-esque, however, Verstappen vowed to not let it all go to his head.

"It is all very well what is written, but it's important to remain cool and calm," he said. "You should always keep improving, because it's never good enough."

Verstappen is fifth in the drivers' rankings heading into the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, five points adrift of Sebastian Vettel.

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Former driver Gerhard Berger sits in a car on track after qualifying for the Formula One Grand Prix of Austria at Red Bull Ring on June 20, 2015
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