Jos Verstappen backs Max's decision to stay at Red Bull

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Jos Verstappen says Red Bull's recent form has proved that Max made the right decision to stay at the team.

Max endured a painful first half to the season in 2017 with various issues and reliability issues. But since the summer, both he and the team have been on top form.

He's been on the podium three times in the last four races, including two race wins. His victory last weekend in Mexico has been hailed as "Schumacher like" but no less an authority than Ross Brawn.

It means that Verstappen's decision to extend his contract with the team look like very a smart move. He announced the deal two weeks ago.

"The team has moved heaven and earth to become more competitive again," his father told Ziggo Sport Totaal.

"When you look at the state of the car at the beginning of the season and how good it is now, that answers the question of what makes a top team.

"All the changes made fit wonderfully with Max's driving style," said Jos, who co-manages his son's career. "[It] is noticeable on the stopwatch."

The suggestion that the team might be tailoring the car to suit Max might not go down well on the other side of the Red Bull garage.

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Daniel Ricciardo had already been irked by suggestions that Red Bull should shape its future around the 20-year-old. Unlike Max, he's yet to decide his future with the team when his current contract expires at the end of 2018.

"I suspect now Verstappen has a preferential position [at Red Bull]," suggested Sky Sports F1 commentator Martin Brundle. "I'd be amazed if his managers didn't nail down some sort of number one status.

"With his age that he can do this Red Bull deal and still have a long Mercedes or Ferrari career in the next phase of F1 from 2021 onwards.

"The more I think about it, the more it makes sense that he's settled down at Red Bull," concluded Brundle.

While Jos Verstappen sees a promising long-term future in store for Max at Red Bull, right now the focus is on winning the final two races of this season.

"In Brazil we hope for a little rain," said the former Benetton, Tyrell, Stewart and Arrows driver. "Then Max can show what he can do, as he managed last year.

"I guess in qualifying the other top teams will be a little stronger," he admitted. "But in the race Red Bull should be able to keep up."

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Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.