Briatore full of praise for Verstappen: 'Everyone should take a deep bow'
F1 News
- Toby McLuskie
It was Flavio Briatore who gave Jos Verstappen a chance in Formula 1 at Benetton in 1994. After a long and illustrious career, the now departed Italian also sees how Max Verstappen, Jos' son, is currently the best driver in the world. Briatore has purely nice words for Verstappen junior, who had not yet been born when Jos competed in Formula 1 under his wings.
Briatore had watched with admiration as Verstappen put "the blow of Singapore" behind him at Suzuka last weekend. The former Renault and therefore Benetton team boss suspects that the two-time world champion was extremely tormented after that weekend in the city-state, where he and Red Bull Racing did not have a moment's prospect of victory. But as is well known, order was restored in Japan: Verstappen declassified the entire field.
Verstappen had insane speed
"He had insane speed, especially on the first part of the circuit," Briatore responded in Il Reformista. "There he had to deal with 6G, like being in a spinning fighter jet. So all credits to the Dutch Red Bull driver," said the Italian, who saw Red Bull capture the constructors' title. Soon to follow undeniably is the drivers' championship for Verstappen.
"Max deserves it all, it was a real Verstappen day in Japan and everyone else should bow to the performance of this special driver," Briatore added.