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Red Bull see Verstappen evolve: "more consistent, less aggressive"
Max Verstappen was very good in Formula 1 from the start, but the Dutchman has shown a considerable learning curve. The Dutchman says he still has the same driving style, although at certain times he is a little less aggressive and a bit more thoughtful than in his first years at the highest level. Pierre Waché experienced it up close.
The technical director quickly realised Verstappen was very talented when he came in at Red Bull Racing in May 2016, but: “I didn’t think it will be as good at the beginning." In his first and second seasons at the Austrian racing team, Max was already showing great things, but it was only from 2018 onwards that the belief that he could become world champion fairly soon really took hold.
A little more thoughtful
Waché: "He learned to be more consistent, less aggressive." The Monaco Grand Prix in particular was an important tipping point in this respect. In the third free practice, Verstappen crashed his Red Bull car, preventing him from taking part in qualifying. In the narrow streets of Monaco, he therefore had to come from last place. It was an eye-opener for Max.
"He's a lot more mature in terms of communication and [he has a better sense of] when you can take risk and less risk compared to the beginning. In the past, he wanted to do all the plays (at) the first corner, (which) then created some crashes and some disappointment," the Red Bull chief told The Athletic.