In an interview with CNN Sport’s Amanda Davies, Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen says he appreciates Ross Brawn comparing him with the legendary Michael Schumacher, but he remains his own man.

Speaking from Barcelona ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix this weekend, Verstappen tells CNN: "It was of course very nice, but I don't like to compare myself to anyone because I'm myself and I'm a different driver.”

Currently trailing reigning champion Lewis Hamilton by 30 points, the 22-year-old says that he doesn’t expect the team to be challenging for the championship in the remaining eight races.

Verstappen on whether Red Bull can challenge Mercedes this season:

"So far, we've had one race where we were, maybe, the fastest car, but all the other ones we weren't, so we just have to stay realistic at the moment. From my side, I'm not thinking about a possible championship at the moment. I just want to try and do the best I can every single weekend."

Verstappen on Ross Brawn’s comments comparing him to Michael Schumacher:

"It was of course very nice, but I don't like to compare myself to anyone because I'm myself and I'm a different driver. Of course, you can always get some similar attitudes or whatever, or you can get compared sometimes but, from my side, I never do that. I just want to be myself."

Verstappen on the progress of Formula 1’s “We Race As One” initiative:

"It's gone well in terms of how we are expressing it but, of course, at the end of the day it's about actions as well. We just keep showing our support, because I think everybody is in support, which is very important, and time will tell of course what's going to happen,"

Verstappen on if he’s spoken to Lewis Hamilton about the campaign:

"Of course, we talk about it. We have our driver briefings but then also we stay on, of course, because we are all members of the GPDA (Grand Prix Drivers' Association). Everybody's very open and everybody is very supportive, and everybody wants exactly the same thing. I think Lewis appreciates that, and it's not only Lewis who has to appreciate that, it's the whole world. That's what we are doing, we are just trying to show our support." — CNN Sport