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Villeneuve: 'Peculiar' Verstappen needs to look for this quality in teams
If Max Verstappen would decide to change teams and leave Red Bull Racing, a long list of team principals and CEOs would immediately knock on his door. Former world champion Jacques Villeneuve believes should that happen, the Dutchman would need to choose wisely.
Verstappen's credentials speak for themselves, as the Dutchman has displayed on multiple occasions that he has all the qualities to be a dominant driver in Formula 1. If Verstappen would decide to continue elsewhere, Villeneuve believes he would have to find the team that suits him the most.
"It depends on what’s available. Maybe next year there’s not an exciting team available for him to leave to join. Even if most teams would want him, maybe the opportunity is not there," he began to a betting website.
The Canadian echoes the sentiment that Verstappen should look for the team that look to build on his qualities. After all, Verstappen has repeatedly explained winning is the most important thing for him. "It’s really difficult to understand. He is a peculiar driver. He really drives to the limit and is always on it. He needs a specific car. Not every car that would suit his driving style."
'Not many cars are designed the way he likes it'
The defending world champion has a clear taste for the type of cars he likes to drive, and Villeneuve sees he also stands out in that regard. "He seems to love very precise cars, very pointy cars with a very good front end, and he can manage the rear. Not many drivers can do that or can do that consistently and not many cars get driven like this or are designed like this."
Talking at a Viaplay event where GPblog was present, Verstappen insisted his team need to continue working on fixing their problems with balance especially in terms of kerbs and bumps. He also mentioned that he feels that the car could be less understeery. According to Villeneuve, while Red Bull are working towards that goal, it puts the Dutchman's teammates in a difficult position.
"Basically the way he drives and the way the car then gets developed makes it really difficult for Formula 2 drivers because they come from an inherently understeering car in Formula 3, and Formula 2 they’re designed similarly — huge amounts of understeer so they drive differently."
This season, Liam Lawson has been chosen by Red Bull Racing to be the four-time world champion's teammate. Previously, two Red Bull juniors, Pierre Gasly and Alexander Albon failed to keep up with the Dutchman, and were replaced.
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