F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Newey labels Verstappen 'the perfect driver' in F1

Red Bull chief technical officer Adrian Newey believes Max Verstappen has all the attributes of the perfect F1 driver.

At 25, Verstappen has already established a distinguished track record at the pinnacle of motorsport, with 40 race wins and two world titles among his credentials.

And so far this season, all signs point to the Dutchman adding a third world crown to his collection, an achievement that would put him on a par with such legends of the sport such as Jackie Stewart, Niki Lauda and Ayrton Senna among others.

Newey is obviously well-placed to assess Verstappen's talent, having worked alongside the young charger since his promotion to Red Bull Racing in 2016.

In an interview with Sky Italia, Newey was asked whether Verstappen was "the perfect driver".

"I think he is. He’s got tremendous car control and natural ability," said the Red Bull designer.

"He came in, maybe made some mistakes early on because he was pushing so hard, but now he’s really smooth and drives absolutely to the limit of the car, but within that he’s very thoughtful," said Newey in an interview with Sky Italia.

"He has a very good feeling for the tyres, we have seen that in several races over the last two years. He really has a good feel with how to use the tyres.

"With the tyre behaviour, that’s such an important factor now."

Read also:

Newey's own distinguished career as a designer in Formula 1 – perhaps the greatest ever in Grand Prix racing – saw him work alongside a plethora of great champions such as Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Mika Hakkinen, Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel.

But how would Verstappen compare to this talented group in Newey's view?

"Those drivers are all so different to each other," Newey explained.

"Nigel had huge self-confidence, a lot of upper-body strength, which in those days with no power steering and lots of downforce, was important. A fierce competitor out on track.

"Alain much more methodical, very articulate and testing was very frustrating because often he wouldn’t push himself. So you never quite knew where you were. But when he wanted to, he could turn it on.

"Mika and Kimi were very different. They didn’t say very much but what they did say, you had to take a lot of notice of and interpret what they were saying because they had different ways of putting things.

"Sebastian was a big thinker, long debriefs and spent a huge amount of time going through everything.

"Max is more in the middle. So very different characters but all phenomenal in their own right."

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

Sainz left puzzled by double crash drama in rainy São Paulo

Carlos Sainz was left scratching his head after a disastrous Sunday at the Sao Paulo…

53 mins ago

Alonso pushed through agonizing pain to complete Sao Paulo GP

Fernando Alonso braved both physical agony and mechanical challenges in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix,…

2 hours ago

Alpine double-podium in Brazil could deliver $30 million windfall

Alpine’s remarkable double podium at the São Paulo Grand Prix with Esteban Ocon and Pierre…

17 hours ago

F1i's Driver Ratings for the 2024 São Paulo GP

Alexander Albon, Williams (Did Not Start): 5.5/10 Alex Albon is definitely going through something of…

18 hours ago

Jos Verstappen rips British media after Brazilian Max fest

Jos Verstappen wasted no time after his son spectacular win at the São Paulo Grand…

20 hours ago

Leclerc left with ‘mixed feelings’ after disappointing Sao Paulo GP

Charles Leclerc's weekend in Sao Paulo was unfortunately a stark contrast to Ferrari's recent triumphs…

21 hours ago