OK so the anti-Max (and anti-Appie and anti-Muzikant) sentiment seems to have gone a bit far now and I'm sorry if I was part of it.
I know how good he is, I can see it, But much like Schumacher before him, the hype train took off before he did, and for me it really does get boring.
I do think he's Mansell-like, the lion, the never say die attitude. Even as a die-hard Mansell fan I remember times like Phoenix '91 in an ailing Williams, with Patrese catching him at 2 seconds a lap, Mansell still weaving all over the pit straight, blocking him. His team mate, in a car that worked, compared to his that was broken, and he still blocked him. Even I was thinking 'no, Nigel, don't do that'.
And, much like Senna, Max is learning close racing by making mistakes and causing accidents. I believe he is too aggressive wheel to wheel, and I think the penalties he receives are justified. He just doesn't appear to have taken the hint yet.
So the hype, the acclaim for Max, I can just about live with. But the blind defence of his youthful aggression, I can't.
I'm sure a lot of ex-F1 drivers do think he's going to be great. But I'm also sure a lot of the current ones think he's dangerous. Lewis Hamilton had his car half way into New Mexico when trying to run alongside him.
Nice to hear that you are also was a fan from Nigel Mansell. Nigel was one of the drivers who should have won more world championships. But....always to much bad luck for him on strange ways. I realy like his lion heart!
I dont like Max not always... begin of the season I cursed him. But now he is on his way..... but racing is racing in a split second you can make a mistake. Weak point from Max he is a boss.... with a ego. Cross my fingers for sunday in the first narrow bend. But Senna and Lewis are also egoist. It has to be like this it is their strength.