Verstappen Has To Try And Replicate What Jenson Button Did Says Jacques

Saturday, 12 October 2024 at 17:00

F1TV lead commentator Alex Jacques suggested that Max Verstappen will have to try to win the title like Jenson Button did in 2009.

The upcoming United States Grand Prix in Austin next week (20th of October) will be a crucial indicator of whether Red Bull Racing and Max Verstappen are in trouble or not.

The Milton Keynes team is preparing a major upgrade that Helmut Marko (Red Bull's motorsport advisor) is confident will fix all the problems slowing their cars down.

However, no one can be sure until the cars are put on track. What's more, other teams like Mercedes, Ferrari, and McLaren are also planning to bring some upgrades, so everyone can't wait to see how the top teams compare against each other. Alex Jacques told the Formula for Success podcast:

"I think Red Bull, if they can find an upgrade for Austin that gives Max a greater balance, then I think Max will be back into contention [for wins]."

"I think he's been in damage limitation mode and really impressively in damage limitation mode. Races like Silverstone and last time out at Singapore, really strong to find himself turning what could have been a fifth or a sixth into a second place."

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In Singapore, Red Bull didn't have a car fast enough to match McLaren or Ferrari. That would usually mean that Verstappen should be happy with fifth place. Yet, he managed to finish second, minimizing the point loss to Lando Norris. Jacques continued:

"It's almost like a bellwether, it's almost a litmus test. If Red Bull can't unlock the potential of the car for Austin, where is it going to happen?"

"They've got this lead. I think they'll be desperate for a better balance and if they get that then I think we'll see Max fighting for wins again and game on for the title to the end of the year."

Jenson Button, who won the 2009 Drivers' Championship for the Brawn GP, won six out of the first seven races of the season. However, from then on, Brawn GP lost its advantage, and the Briton didn't win any of the remaining ten races.

This might remind you of Max Verstappen, who won seven out of the first ten Grand Prix races of the 2024 season but has now gone eight races without a victory.

Button managed to win the Championship in 2009 despite losing his pace advantage, and Jacques suggests Verstappen has to try and do something similar.

"He's going to have to try and do what Jenson Button [did in 2009]. Just slippery feet, carrying the vase across the line where you don't have the car, but as long as you can tick off the races and not lose too many points, you've got a chance."