Max Verstappen: Unfairly Vilified or Misunderstood Champion? Red Bull Boss Weighs In
Manish
Max Verstappen, the reigning Formula 1 World Champion, has been unfairly portrayed and underappreciated by outsiders, according to renowned design expert Adrian Newey. In a candid interview on Jake Humphrey's High Performance podcast, Newey shared his insights into Verstappen's character and the challenges he has faced in the public eye.
The Impact of Media Coverage
Newey believes that television coverage, particularly by Sky Sports, has played a significant role in shaping the public's perception of Verstappen. He suggests that the British media's nationalistic approach to F1 coverage has led to an unfair demonization of the Dutch driver, much like his predecessor Sebastian Vettel experienced during his championship-winning years with Red Bull.
Verstappen's Performance Under Pressure
While acknowledging Verstappen's exceptional driving abilities, Newey admits that the intense pressure of the 2021 championship battle with Lewis Hamilton may have affected the young driver's performance. He points to incidents in Brazil and Saudi Arabia as examples where Verstappen's actions on track were questionable, possibly due to feeling the weight of being "the hunted" rather than "the hunter."
The Controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Despite the controversy surrounding the 2021 season finale in Abu Dhabi, Newey claims that Verstappen remained largely unaffected by the post-race drama. He describes the Dutch driver as self-assured and confident, with the ability to focus on his passion for racing without letting external factors impact his performance.
Verstappen's Hidden Strengths
Newey highlights Verstappen's intelligence and exceptional mental processing power as key strengths that are often overlooked. He describes the driver's ability to operate the car almost automatically while simultaneously analyzing his performance, managing tire wear, and communicating effectively with his race engineer.
In conclusion, Newey's insights provide a more nuanced perspective on Max Verstappen, challenging the public perception and shedding light on the complexities of being a world-class Formula 1 driver in the modern era.
