Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing should not yet be ruled out of the Formula 1 competition, even after a season start below the team’s expectations. This is the assessment of former category driver Pedro de la Rosa, who believes in a recovery for Verstappen’s team over the next races and emphasizes that the four-time world champion remains one of the main names on the grid.
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The former driver highlighted that the category’s hierarchy can change quickly from one stage to another. In his view, Ferrari, McLaren, and Red Bull will still have opportunities to fight for wins depending on the characteristics of each circuit.
So far, Red Bull has been occupying a position behind Mercedes, McLaren, and Ferrari in terms of performance. At the Canadian GP, Verstappen publicly criticized a setup adopted by the team, stating that he had already warned beforehand that the configuration would not work. Despite the dissatisfaction after the qualifying session, the Dutchman managed to finish the race in P3, securing his first podium of the season.
Commenting on Verstappen’s future and Red Bull’s possibilities, De la Rosa preferred not to speculate on the driver’s decisions. However, he highlighted that the Dutchman’s talent means he can never be ignored in any scenario: “I have no idea what Max will decide and it is not for me to say. The only thing I can affirm, as a rival (De la Rosa is an Aston Martin ambassador) and someone who knows him well, is that he is always a competitor to be considered,” he said.
The Spaniard pointed out that even difficult weekends can change quickly when Verstappen is involved: “Even if the car is not good enough, the race can happen under rain and, suddenly, we will be talking again about how Max Verstappen and Red Bull are excellent. I have enormous respect for him. Everyone does. He is someone who can never be taken out of the equation until the final flag,” he said.
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Besides believing in a Red Bull reaction, De la Rosa also foresees a balanced championship among the main teams. According to him, there will be tracks more favorable to Ferrari and others where Red Bull can regain ground, something he considers positive for the category’s fans.
The former driver also commented on the possibility of Verstappen leaving Formula 1 in the future, a topic that has already been linked to the rules planned for 2027. For De la Rosa, the Dutchman’s stay would be important for the category: “I hope he stays because F1 needs to keep the best drivers in the world. Max is definitely one of the best and possibly one of the greatest in history. His departure would be a great loss for everyone,” he added.
Finally, the Spaniard showed confidence in the category’s evolution in the coming years. Although he recognizes that there are debates about future regulations, he believes that F1 will continue to advance: “Changes will happen. It is up to Formula 1 and the FIA to make these decisions, but as fans, we should be calm because the sport only tends to get better and better,” concluded the Spaniard.
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