Button: Verstappen’s mastery of RB21 proof of ‘unbelievable’ talent

F1 world champion Jenson Button has praised Max Verstappen’s exceptional talent, crediting the Dutchman’s ability to extract remarkable performance from Red Bull’s troubled car as evidence of his unparalleled skills.

Halfway through the 2025 F1 season, Verstappen currently sits third in the Drivers’ standings, 69 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri.

But the four-time world champion’s overwhelming share of points scored for Red Bull – 165 of 172 – highlight his individual impact on the team’s campaign.

Yet Verstappen has rarely been happy this season with the balance of his RB21, often describing Red Bull’s contender as “just too slow” relative to its Mclaren rivals. At Silverstone, the Dutchman was also quick to single out his car’s sensitivity to the wind, but still managed to claim a brilliant pole position.

“Every weekend is a bit different and you have to adapt to the changing conditions and scenarios, but our car does seem pretty sensitive to the wind this week,” Verstappen admitted at the British Grand Prix.

“Unbelievable” Driving in a Difficult Car

For Button, Verstappen’s consistency despite the RB21’s weaknesses is what truly sets him apart.

“I think it’s really difficult for Max. If Max has one bad race, like he did in Austria, that’s a lot of points for him to make up in a car that is not as good as the McLaren,” the Briton explained.

“You’d have to say it’s a two-horse race at the moment, but Max has had it his way for a few years, and what he’s doing with that car is just unbelievable.

“When you put so many drivers in the same car and they are nowhere near him it proves what a talent he is, and what he’s able to do with a difficult car.”

Button’s admiration for Verstappen extends beyond his 2025 performances. On The Chris Moyles Show, he described the Dutchman as a singular talent in Formula 1 history.

“Yeah, I feel he’s the most rounded F1 driver that there has ever been, you know?” he said.

“And I know he hasn’t won the championships of Lewis [Hamilton]. And I obviously think Lewis is extremely, extremely good and one of the best in the world.

“But there’s just something about Max that he can do something with a car that I don’t think anyone else can.”

What Comes Next? Verstappen’s Future Uncertain

The car’s struggles have also sparked widespread speculation about Verstappen’s long-term future, with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff confirming exploratory talks with the Dutchman.

However, Button believes the uncertainty surrounding the upcoming 2026 regulation overhaul makes any move especially risky.

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“What’s he going to do next year? I don’t know,” Button said. “I think it’s interesting that we don’t know what the best option is. I’m sure he doesn’t know either right now.

“You can kind of see the future a little bit, because you can see what the car’s doing in the wind tunnel, you can see what the power output is, but you don’t know what other teams are doing.

“They might say they’re doing better, but who knows? So, it’s a tricky decision for him and, whatever he chooses, I think it’s going to be an exciting season in 2026 – whatever car he’s in.”

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