Max Verstappen is a two-time Formula 1 world champion whose talent is undeniable, but one racing legend has pointed out a problem the Dutchman also brings – poor results from his teammates. Red Bull Racing must figure out who to partner with Verstappen if they want to remain competitive in the coming years.
The problem that Verstappen poses for Red Bull is not just about finding the right driver to pair him with, but also attempting to solve the underlying issue as to why his teammates have struggled so much throughout his career. There are several possible explanations for this phenomenon, all of which must be taken into consideration when looking for a solution.
The first explanation could be that Verstappen’s immense talent and success overshadow his teammates and make them feel inadequate, leading them to underperform in comparison. This could be due to various factors such as lack of confidence or feeling overwhelmed by the pressure of being compared to their teammate. Whatever the case may be, it is vital that Red Bull Racing ensure their drivers are given an equal opportunity and are able to perform at their best without any psychological hindrances from outside sources.
Another possible explanation for why Verstappen’s teammates have failed to match up with him is because he has been driving for Red Bull since 2015 and has had more time than any other driver at the team to learn its intricacies and perfect its set-up. Thus, any new driver joining the team may struggle initially due to lack of familiarity with the car and team operations compared to Verstappen – making it even more difficult for them to keep up with him on track. To counter this, Red Bull should look into giving new drivers sufficient pre-season testing before each season begins so they can get accustomed with the team’s car setup and operations quicker, allowing them a better chance at competing against their teammate on equal footing.
While Max Verstappen has undoubtedly been an invaluable asset for Red Bull Racing over the last few years, it’s clear that there is still work left to do in order for them to remain competitive going forward. Finding a partner who can match up with him will be no easy task but if they focus on addressing both psychological and technical issues then they should give themselves every chance of success. Ultimately only time will tell whether or not they can solve ‘The Max Verstappen Problem’ but if they do then there’s no doubt that it would prove beneficial not only for Red Bull Racing but also Formula 1 as a whole.