Verstappen Has 'Insane Advantage' Over Rivals Thanks To His Talent Says Wache

Tuesday, 02 April 2024 at 00:00

Max Verstappen is one of the best drivers in motorsport history, and his incredible talent is a big part of the reason.

The Dutch driver entered F1 as a 17-year-old, holding the record for the youngest-ever driver to compete in a Formula One Grand Prix. Over the years, his talent translated into three World Championships, and he doesn't seem to be stopping.

Verstappen started the 2024 season with two wins, and even though he wasn't able to finish the third race of the season, the 26-year-old is still in the pole position to win his fourth World Championship this year.

The Red Bull driver was showing his incredible speed and talent also in his teenage years and early 20s, but with his team's dominance over the past few years, it's often discussed whether he was able to win so much because of his car or his talent.

Red Bull's technical director, Pierre Wache, has a clear answer, as he stated in a recent interview with RacingNews365 that he has never seen a driver who would be able to drive "on the limit" in his first lap on a track.

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"He loves racing, has insane talent and feels the limit of the car perfectly. Before I started working with him, I had never experienced a driver who was immediately on the limit on his first lap."

In Formula One, every second, every tenth, every moment matters, and while some may not be impressed by Verstappen's ability to learn the track fast, it's actually a massive help for his team.

Because of that, they are able to make faster improvements to their car, as the Dutchman can give them the data they need, keeping them ahead of the rest of the competition.

"That really gives him an insane advantage, especially since we are allowed to test so little these days. It's also an advantage for us when you have a driver who can immediately drive the car at the limit. That's because it gives you an advantage."

"This is because it gives you immediate insight into what you need to improve on the car. That's because you clearly know what the limit of the car is and therefore you know what you need to improve."