How Verstappen's Situation In 2024 Makes F1 More Interesting- Formula E CEO

Wednesday, 17 July 2024 at 14:00

Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds explained how Max Verstappen's current situation with Red Bull makes the 2024 season more interesting.

Not many people had high expectations for the 2024 season after Red Bull dominated the first two races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

It looked like 2024 would be yet another year of the Austrian team's dominance. However, that changed very quickly, and at the midpoint of the season (British Grand Prix), Red Bull no longer had the fastest car.

In an interview with RacingNews365, Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds 3 suggested the team from Milton Keynes failed to make good enough progress with their car this season.

"I think the fact that Red Bull have not progressed particularly with its car – Checo is having a very difficult season – and the fact that McLaren, Mercedes, and Ferrari, although they've hit a bit of a wobble at the moment, have all progressed, I think it's just making a much more interesting sport."

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However, while rivals are catching up to Red Bull, the Austrian team, with its triple World Champion, remains the most consistent.

"Saying that, we're 12 races into the F1 season, Max has won seven races. Of the five that have been won by others it's one each for five different people. So in any other sport, that would be a no contest, right?"

"If somebody has won seven, and the only other person who's won a race has won one, that would be a no contest."

Dodds believes that rivals catching up with Red Bull are only good for the sport, as it's becoming less predictable when "exceptional talent" Verstappen has to deal with a car that is no longer the best.

"Max is an exceptional racing talent, in and was in an exceptional car and therefore he's made it very predictable."

"I think at the moment, you've got an exceptional racing talent in a car that's struggling to keep its advantage over other cars, which I think makes for a more interesting back of the season."