During the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Max Verstappen secured his fourth Formula 1 World Championship. Technical Director Pierre Waché acknowledges that the Dutch driver did not always have the best car this year. Nevertheless, he clinched the championship before the end of the season, a feat that only Verstappen could have achieved, according to Waché.
The championship victory in Las Vegas concludes a turbulent season for the Dutchman. Often, he had to concede to his rivals from McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes. This was primarily due to the RB20, which caused him trouble on more than one occasion. Waché explained that Red Bull has struggled with the car in recent months, but Verstappen never let this discourage him.
All Thanks to Verstappen
“The Italian Grand Prix was a real wake-up call,” Waché told the media in Las Vegas. “We encountered a fundamental problem that we had not seen before. We simply had far too little downforce.” During the race in Monza, Verstappen repeatedly complained about the balance of his car, a recurring issue throughout the season.”It’s great to see how the team responded,” continued Waché, emphasizing that the biggest problems have now been resolved. “That being said, Max Verstappen really owes this title to himself,” added the Frenchman. “Of course, a driver needs a good car, but this year it has become clear that Verstappen simply does not make mistakes. He raced very maturely, so he has more than earned this title. We may not have given him a car with which he could dominate, but he still got the job done.”
Technical Director Pierre Waché on the podium in São Paulo (Motorsport Images)”
