F1 News: Newey impressed with Verstappen’s mental capacity

Red Bull’s Technical boss Adrian Newey has worked with many great drivers over the years, and said he’s particularly impressed with Max Verstappen’s mental capacity.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

At just 26 years old, Verstappen is already third on the all-time F1 win list, and he has now won his third World Championship in the most dominating manner.

Verstappen is favored to win the title again in 2024, putting him in some rather rarefied F1 air. Only Schumacher, Hamilton and Fangio would have more.

In an exclusive interview with Motorsport.com, Newey said, “I think Max, like all the truly great drivers, you have the impression that he can drive the car almost sub-consciously.

“And that then leaves him with plenty of processing power to think about what the car is doing.

“[That means] how he can modify his driving to suit the car, how he can change the set-up via the electronic tools on the steering wheel to assist him in what he’s trying to achieve at that particular point in the race and the particular deg the tires are suffering and whatever.

“Basically, to read a race the whole way through.

“And I think that is something that he’s kind of had when he first came into Formula 1, but perhaps he’s really been able to develop to a very high level now.

“So, that kind of ability to drive the car extremely quickly, but still have constant reserve is something which Max very clearly has and I would say all the true greats that I’ve worked with have also been the same.”

“He’s a very easy driver to work with.

“He’s demanding, of course, absolutely. But his feedback is good – it’s not over complicated.

“Max knows how to express what he wants out of the car. And then with GP [Gianpiero Lambiase, Red Bull chief engineer], his race engineer, has trust that we will come up with solutions.

“We don’t always – Singapore [in 2023 and Red Bull’s only defeat of the campaign just gone] being the example! But, we do our best.”