F1
Verstappen warns McLaren: "The two best drivers in a team will always get in each other's way."
Photo: DPPI
Before the Brazilian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen He delivered a tactical and prescient analysis of driver management within a top team. Using football as an example, the Dutchman argued that a team composed solely of the best players always runs the risk of self-destruction.
« En Formula 1When a veteran driver is at the peak of their career, another young driver is needed to take over when their performance declines, someone talented enough to approach that level, so that the team doesn't suffer and fall behind. " the champion explained in the Pelas Pistas podcast.
To illustrate his point, he drew a surprising parallel with football. It's like what Real Madrid does, which I think is right… even though I'm a Barcelona fan. They have an excellent starting eleven, but they make sure to replace the veterans with young talents capable of taking over. »
Number 1 continued his comparison with F1 by contrasting the models Red Bull et McLaren. " When you have the two best drivers on a team, they're always going to get in each other's way. And, in the end, even if the team is dominant, it will eventually split up and have problems. If I were a team principal, I would never take that risk. Moreover, it's an even more untenable situation when you're fighting for the championship. And I think we're going to see that very soon in F1, given the current situation. »
These remarks resonate particularly strongly today, as Lando Norris et Oscar piastri They are still battling for the championship lead, separated by just 24 points with three races remaining. Verstappen, now 49 points behind after the Brazilian weekend, might well hope that the tension between the two McLaren drivers will rise… and offer him an unexpected opportunity to get back into contention for a fifth consecutive world title.
ALSO READ > Verstappen, with the bit between his teeth in Brazil
Valentin GLO
Journalist. Endurance reporter (WEC, IMSA, ELMS, ALMS) and sometimes F1 or IndyCar.
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Yves-Henri RANDIER
14/11/2025 at 02:24 a.m.
An illustration of the expertise of a four-time World Champion in psychological warfare... or how to sow discord or instill doubt in the opposing camp!
Alain Féguenne (🇱🇺 Luxembourg)
14/11/2025 at 01:51 a.m.
Wow… we have so much in common… Brid Get 🫶… I'll send you a private message tomorrow… ☎️ Max… is becoming more and more of a great… Champion ‼️ He reminds me more and more of… Michael 👍… and now it's off to Scuderia Ferrari… in 2027… 👍🛞👍. alainkf1@pt.lu 😎👀👏👀‼️
Brid Get
13/11/2025 at 08:24 a.m.
Good evening everyone, I completely agree with you Alain... Forza Max...!!!!
vincent moyet
13/11/2025 at 11:58 a.m.
Clearly, at Red Bull Racing (RBR), they don't apply this method; they can't imagine Tsunoda being the successor after him! He's right about the drivers' title: if one of the McLaren drivers had won all 14 of the team's races, the title would have been secured a long time ago. But we'd be incredibly bored for the last six months. Then again, if McLaren allows Piastri to attack Norris again, it could end in a collision or they could score points from each other, and that would suit him just fine. Let's agree with him, while advising McLaren to see Piastri as the successor to Norris, more consistent over the course of a championship thanks to his experience. In that respect, McLaren has the assets to maintain its position at the top of the standings, unlike Red Bull Racing.
Alain Féguenne (🇱🇺 Luxembourg)
13/11/2025 at 10:04 a.m.
Damn Max! He's diabolical... But he's right... and he won't give up... on anything! alainkf1@pt.lu 😎👀👍🍾
Little Pimousse
13/11/2025 at 10:02 a.m.
Max, the championship should be won on the track, not in podcast interviews. Besides, McLaren won the championship thanks to their two rockets, while Tsunoda was no help at all in the constructors' title race for Red Bull... The Verstappen method works for winning the drivers' title, but when it comes to the one that really pays off, the constructors' title, it's clearly not the best!
Lucas Paul
13/11/2025 at 09:04 a.m.
That's why he always wanted substitutes by his side :(:(:(