Schumacher suffered a terrible head injury while skiing in the French Alps four years ago and was put into a medically induced coma.
After undergoing two life-saving operations he was withdrawn from the coma and moved to a hospital in Lausanne, Switzerland, before being brought home in September 2014.
After talking of the racing legend’s current situation Verstappen, who is a close family friend of the Schumachers, said: “He did everything to win, even if someone had to be pushed off the track.
“That’s the mentality of a winner.”
Schumacher was good friends with Max’s father Jos Verstappen and as a child the young driver regularly went on holidays with the Schumacher family.
Max, an F1 driver with Red Bull, was speaking in his first interview of the season with ziggosport. He said: “I can remember certain things. We went on a few holidays together, when I was four or five years old.
“I was just a kid, so I played with his son Mick, who is a bit younger than me.
“It was all very relaxed and playful, you do not think about the fact that he is the famous Schumacher.”
The three time GP winner said he thinks about Schumacher “only if he comes up in conversations”.
He said: “In general, we try not to think too much about it. It’s hard enough for the family.”
Earlier this month Schumacher celebrated his 49th birthday and his daughter Gina took to Instagram leaving a heartfelt message to her father.
She wrote on the social networking site: “Happy Birthday to the best Dad ever. We love you. #keepfighting.”
The seven-time world champion’s old Formula 1 team Ferrari also paid homage to the star.
The Italian team posted on twitter “Our thoughts are always with him. #Keepfighting #ForzaMichael.”
Additional reporting by Monika Pallenberg