Red Bull drivers all struggle with one thing about Max Verstappen
Max Verstappen has crushed his Red Bull team-mates over the years, and a mechanic who works closely with the four-time F1 drivers' champion has revealed how
Max Verstappen has crushed his Red Bull team-mates over the years, and a mechanic who works closely with the four-time F1 drivers' champion has revealed howMax Verstappen and Sergio Perez in Baku in 2024 (
Image: Getty Images)
A Red Bull insider has lifted the lid on what makes Max Verstappen a team-mate destroyer.
Daniel Ricciardo, Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, and, most recently, Sergio Perez have also been put to the sword since the Dutchman stepped up to the Red Bull senior team during the 2016 season, brilliantly winning that year's Spanish Grand Prix. After four years with Verstappen, Perez's form and confidence have been left in tatters, with the Mexican being moved aside at the end of last season despite having a year left on his contract.
Red Bull mechanic Calum Nicholas has opened up about what makes the four-time world champion such a fearsome team-mate. Speaking on the High Performance podcast with Jake Humphrey, he said: âÂÂMore than anything, itâÂÂs resilience. What weâÂÂve seen, certainly with MaxâÂÂs teammates over the years, what they struggle with is how resilient Max is.
âÂÂYou can have a bad weekend where the carâÂÂs not great and he will drag something out of it. For a lot of the drivers who have sat alongside him in the garage, itâÂÂs really hard to see.
âÂÂItâÂÂs really hard to suck up. You might go out and put a great lap in and think, âÂÂIâÂÂve dragged the most out of that carâÂÂ, then Max will find two-tenths on you.
âÂÂMentally, that really takes itâÂÂs toll on people, through no fault of MaxâÂÂs. HeâÂÂs just there to go the quickest but itâÂÂs a tough one [for them] to swallow sometimes.âÂÂ
Nicholas also disclosed what the 27-year-old dislikes the most about life in F1. He said: âÂÂThe thing that Max dislikes most is all the media requirements. And I hear him. Max would quite happily just arrive, get in the car, do his job.âÂÂ
GET INVOLVED! How will Liam Lawson fare against Max Verstappen? Tell us in the comments section.
Calum Nicholas (right) is one of Max Verstappen's key allies trackside (
Image:
HOCH ZWEI/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)
The next driver faced with the task of driving alongside Verstappen is Liam Lawson, who insists he is relishing working alongside an F1 great. Upon being announced as PerezâÂÂs replacement, the New Zealander said: âÂÂI am super excited to work alongside Max and learn from a world champion. I have no doubt I will learn from his expertise. I canâÂÂt wait to get going."
Verstappen and Lawson will be in attendance when F1 holds its season launch event at The O2 in London on Tuesday, February 18. The event will see all 10 teams will unveil their liveries for the 2025 season, which begins with the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park, Melbourne in mid-March.