The new Formula 1 doesn’t suit Max Verstappen. After the Japanese Grand Prix, the four-time world champion no longer wanted to rule out retiring at the end of the season. But F1 expert Ralf Schumacher doesn’t believe that and sees the Dutchman’s turn.
“It’s something very special to be in Formula 1. Of course he now has the freedom to say: ‘That stinks to me’. But find an alternative,” argued Schumacher in the “Sky” podcast “Backstage Pit Lane”.
The former Formula 1 driver specified: “A GT car, no matter how beautiful it is, but with 1.4 tons, no matter how much battery a Formula 1 car has, it’s something completely different. Driving around the world, competing with the best drivers in the world. I can’t imagine that Max will give that up so quickly.”
Schumacher sees it as Verstappen’s turn. “Max is frustrated with the new rules, the new Formula 1. If he were to win now, he still wouldn’t like it very much, but it would be easier for him and people would hear less criticism from him. Now he just has to put his own ego aside – he gets paid well for it – and be a team player, that’s important now,” said the TV expert.
Schumacher: Too much focus on Verstappen
After his eighth place at the Japanese Grand Prix, Verstappen did not rule out retiring from Formula 1 at the end of the season.
“Max would now do well to have a fatherly friend like Dr. Helmut Marko, who would then take him in his arms and say: ‘Now we have to get through this together.’ Marko is urgently missing from Red Bull. Because at the moment Max Verstappen is the only mouthpiece, otherwise you won’t hear anyone anymore. And that’s the case, even though it’s not Max’s job,” said Schumacher.
Verstappen is currently “left alone” at Red Bull. He needs to be out of focus a bit, said the Formula 1 expert.
