Amidst all the exit rumors surrounding Max Verstappen, four-time world champion and former Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel urges him to remain loyal to his team. Over the past few weeks, much has been said and written about Red Bull’s disappointing speed and the other teams that might want to contract the Dutchman. Vettel acknowledges that Verstappen is facing a decisive year in which he can prove himself again as a driver.
After five races in the current Formula 1 season, Max Verstappen has only won one Grand Prix. All other times, it was McLaren that took the victory. This happened three times in the form of Oscar Piastri, who has taken over the championship lead since the last GP in Saudi Arabia. The difference between Verstappen and the young Australian is only twelve points. In Jeddah, the Dutch champion seemed to be heading for another victory after a brilliant pole lap in qualifying, but a time penalty ultimately cost him too much time in the race.
‘The best driver on the grid’
Although Verstappen is still competing for the title, his future in Formula 1 is a major point of contention. He has repeatedly been linked to a move to Aston Martin, while Mercedes is also still reportedly interested in the three-time world champion. Sebastian Vettel, who faced a similar dilemma at Red Bull in 2014, shared his vision for Verstappen’s future in a conversation with Sky Sports.
“I believe this is the moment when you truly build a bond,” said the German. “It’s the time when, after so many years, you become so close to each other. Some people have left and others have joined – that is, regardless of whether you win titles or not, the nature of Formula 1. But this is the moment when you need to stick together and fight back.” Vettel, who still describes Max Verstappen as ‘the best driver of the moment’, also knows that the Dutchman is facing a decisive year.
“Verstappen has an incredible amount of talent, he has grown tremendously over the past few years,” Vettel said. “I think the way he now builds his races is different than before. It’s much smarter. The progress he has made has nothing to do with lap times or his performances. It’s more about the consistency and reliability he shows time and time again. The time he sometimes takes to attack, the fact that he waits for the right moment – he visualizes the entire race and the opportunities he gets. He has excellent self-control, and that makes him currently the strongest on the grid. The combination of aggression and experience, along with his natural speed, is amazing to watch. This is clearly a decisive year for him.”
