F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Grosjean explains why he admires Max Verstappen

X (Twitter)X (Twitter)
FacebookFacebook
WhatsappWhatsapp

Ex-F1 driver Romain Grosjean says reigning world champion Max Verstappen has been more "at peace" this season, but still displays the same "engaging" driving that has earned him the admiration of many.

After his controversial title fight with Lewis Hamilton last year, Verstappen has been in a league of his own this season, and totally unassailable in the second half of this year's campaign, securing his second world championship with four race to spare.

While Red Bull's RB18 has served as the perfect compliment to Verstappen's outstanding talent, Grosjean believes that the Dutchman himself has evolved as a driver in the wake of his first coronation.

"We already knew that Max is an extremely talented driver, but I think his first world title has given him a lot more confidence and calmness while racing," said the former Haas F1 driver on Sky Sports podcast Any Driven Monday.

"Since he’s World Champion he just more at peace, he just drives the way he does drive, which is a very engaged way of driving that I love and admire.

"They are dominating hard this year. Hopefully Red Bull will have a bit more trouble in the future with teams like Ferrari and Mercedes, because as much as it is fun for Max, it is not good for the show if only one car wins every time."

Grosjean noted that Verstappen, as gifted as he was when he graduated to F1 in 2015 as a seventeen-year-old teenager, suffered his fair share of on-track incidents due to his lack of experience.

"It is something Max has learned over the years," explained the Andretti Autosport IndyCar charger.

"He went through the junior classes very quickly and entered F1 super early.

"But you can have all the preparation you want, when you get to F1, it’s still F1, it’s still harder, and then the rest, it’s still different and there is more involved."

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.

Recent Posts

A salute to Sir Jack - trail blazer extraordinaire

F1 legend Sir Jack Brabham, one of Australia's greatest sportsmen, was born on this day…

40 mins ago

Tsunoda receives bold ‘promise’ from Horner amid Red Bull debut

Yuki Tsunoda will be basking in the spotlight this weekend at Suzuka where the freshly…

2 hours ago

Hamilton’s red dawn fuels Ferrari sponsor merch triumph

In the bustling world of Formula 1, where speed and style collide, the arrival of…

3 hours ago

Mercedes aims to 'build on solid start' in Japan and beyond

Mercedes heads to Suzuka circuit for the Japanese Grand Prix, the third round of the…

4 hours ago

Perez: ‘People now realize how difficult Red Bull car is to drive’

As the Formula 1 world continues to evolve, Sergio Perez remains a key figure in…

18 hours ago

Antonelli: Learning from Bono’s experience ‘a very big privilege’

Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli has opened up about his budding relationship with veteran race engineer…

20 hours ago