Grosjean explains why he admires Max Verstappen

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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."

Read also: Sainz determined to 'complicate things' for Verstappen in 2023

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."

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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.