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Horner: Verstappen is "doing his learning in public"

1 June 2018 at 09:39
  • Matt Gretton
  • Editor-in-Chief

Yesterday he suggested Max Verstappen should press the reset button going into the Canadian Grand Prix, but today Christian Horner gets back behind his young driver. He reminds critics of his limited experience and believes he will return to his best. 

In 2018, Verstappen has had more than his fair share of incidents on the track. His most recent came when he crashed in FP3 last week causing him to start the Monaco Grand Prix from the back.

Former World Champions, including Nico Rosberg and Jacques Villeneuve, have turned their backs on the 20-year-old Dutchman. Horner has answered the critics for Max. 

“Look, Max arrived in F1 very quickly, so he is doing his learning in a very public area, and is in a front-running car,” said Horner. 

Outside of Formula 1, Verstappen spent one year in Formula three but that is all the experience he got before being placed in a Toro Rosso in 2015. 

“Most guys would have gone through some of this in the lower formulas that you wouldn’t have even seen, whereas he is having to deal with it in a very public arena. I’m sure he’ll emerge on the other side,” added Horner. 

“Daniel has continuously raised his game and I think he is in a purple patch of his career now at 28 years of age.”