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Rosberg says Verstappen is a 'narcissist', but Wolff disagrees

Nico Rosberg believes that if you look up the word 'narcissist' in the dictionary, you'll likely find a picture of Max Verstappen.

In his latest 'Beyond Victory' podcast, the 2016 world champion sits down with his former boss, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff.

As he lavishes praise on the Austrian for his achievements and competence, Rosberg's comments deviate towards Max Verstappen whom he labels a 'narcissist', although he believes that in the Dutchman's case, the trait is perhaps a quality.

"If you take Verstappen, he is like a ‘narcissist’ like you write it in the dictionary," explains Rosberg.

"How can you not doubt yourself if you make the same mistake six times?

"And the seventh time you still do the same but it happens to work because you have so much talent and then it turns into a success streak.

"Being an extremely narcissistic when you have the talent can be a powerful force, and maybe even the most powerful."

However, Wolff suggested that his former driver was perhaps confusing narcissism with self-confidence, with which Verstappen abounds.

"Max’s behaviour is self-confident in a way you could also say over-confident," says Wolff.

"But he is very young. When he collided with Valtteri [Bottas] in Monza last year it is pretty obvious there was not enough space.

"I watched a replay a few days ago, it was on Sky and Martin Brundle, who knows everything, even said there was not enough space.

“I think the older he gets the more he matures he is going to get than anger under control.

"If you remember how you were when you were nineteen, twenty – I know what I was like, you’ll see another story. You have to include his age."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.

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