Max Verstappen pointed out a limitation of the current Formula 1 cars, which according to him, reduces the ability of drivers to make a difference with their own skills. In an interview with the BBC, the four-time world champion cited Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson as examples to support his assessment.
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The Red Bull Racing driver highlighted how quickly the two adapted to the team’s car when they were temporarily promoted from Racing Bulls. For Verstappen, the fact that both were immediately competitive shows how the current cars respond less sensitively to the individual characteristics of the driver behind the wheel.
“No disrespect. And I hope no one takes this the wrong way. But look at Yuki. He gets in the car, had never driven this car before and is immediately competitive. Liam moves from Racing Bulls to Red Bull Racing, and is immediately competitive. It’s because these cars are insensitive to your inputs,” Verstappen said.
The Dutchman acknowledged that it is still necessary to execute a good lap and take risks to be fast, but considers there is a significant limitation: “The fastest drivers will always stand out. But it is really limited, like a kind of bottleneck. You are held back,” he said.
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Verstappen also compared current driving with what, in his view, was historically valued in the category. Braking later, accelerating earlier, and committing more in high-speed corners used to gain time, while currently drivers often need to do the opposite to gain an advantage in terms of speed.
“It’s very unnatural. It’s not how it should be,” Verstappen assessed, describing the need to hold the car in certain corners, delay acceleration, brake earlier, or even ease off the throttle to seek performance in other parts of the track.
In the same interview, Verstappen also confirmed that he spoke with Mercedes and McLaren before deciding to continue at Red Bull. The Dutchman said he took the possibilities seriously but concluded that staying with the team was the best path, repeating a stance of patience that, according to him, he had already adopted earlier in his career.
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