Max Verstappen 2025 World Champion?

Hindsight being 20-20: RedBull should have kept Perez IMO.

 

financially speaking, yes. Results? No. They NEVER should've extended him mid season last year, an extremely costly mistake.

But that begs the question, who should they have taken? Keeping in mind availability of others and their own development driver program.

IMO best one that was available was Sainz but he rejected the offer.

Albon, Gasly etc all proven to be better than thought of. They looked good at Toro Rosso, terrible next to Max, then good again after that. Max just keeps improving his skillset and makes the rest look like **** IMO.

 

55 point gap to Piastri, 6 races left, a total of 170 points available to any single driver over the remaining races.

At a minimum, Max needs 2 wins, 2 sprint podiums, a few fastest laps and for Piastri to have one bad race.

McLaren should be sweating right now.

 

That's a problem for Red Bull, they virtually cannot get any good driver because all know they would look bad compared to Max. Rookies or drivers without ambitions are their only solutions, unless they find a unaware good driver.

 

I respectfully disagree with that. The best drivers are the ones who believe they can prove themselves against the very best and are eager to prove it. Almost every driver has enough self-confidence and ego to believe that. The problem is hiring one who has the talent to back up the ego.

 

Fastest laps dont count. Mclaren are doing all they can to help Max but not themselves lol:

McLaren “a long way” from prioritising Piastri despite Verstappen's F1 title gains
As Max Verstappen continues closing on Oscar Piastri’s lead in the F1 standings, McLaren says it will stick to its equal treatment policy

 

... since when did McLaren apply an equal treatment policy ?

 

It looks like that to me.

 

When they think rationally though it's a different story again, or at least listen to their advisors.

Imagine (hypothetically) that Leclerc takes job next to Max, and he is half a second a lap slower. Leclerc's stock drops like a rock. Suddenly few times would really want him.

Hedging your bets and get paid royally taking a chance at teams like Ferrari, Mclaren, Mercedes...might just be the better option long term. Gasly's stock pre Red Bull stint was pretty high and back then there were even people saying he might frighten Max and be a real thorn in his side. Half a season later how did that go...and in a way Gasly is still recovering from it because I haven't seen any other top team knocking on his door.

Being beaten this badly is a virtual career ender.

 

So, who do you propose ?

 

Unless said driver can totally outperform Max, there's no way he'll get equal treatment at RB.
As it stands the RB 2nd driver job is for masochists.

 

I don’t have anyone in mind, I’m just disagreeing with the premise that Red Bull will have a difficult time finding a #2 simply because Max is too intimidating or is a career wrecker, and therefore potentially great drivers would not want to be in the team with him. I don’t believe successful drivers think that way.

 

Well, then timid drivers have a deep lineup of mediocre teams to choose from, don’t they? But why would they?

 

Succesful drivers may (should) think they are the best, but that does not prevent them to look for the best environment for success - I have the feeling that many drivers want to be #1 in their team (and they may prefer not to have to earn it the hard way), at least to make sure they will get the right attention and dedication from the team.

 

Some people prefer 2nd fiddle in a top team, some would rather gamble at a midfield team.

Look at Riccardo's trajectory.

 

If the right attention and dedication don’t result in success they’re useless except for pleasantries exchanged in the garage. Don’t you think there are several drivers who believe they would be producing better results in Tsunoda’s seat than where they are now? If they don’t believe that about themselves they may be in the wrong sport.

 

Max is the best driver, and if McLaren loses its advantage and the drivers start fighting each other, Max will take advantage of that and win the last Grand Prix.

 

Welcome to FChat.

Mclaren can't let Max get into their heads otherwise Mclaren is finished and will make costly mistakes.

Note: their qualifying at COTA isn't what we are used to seeing from the Mclaren camp. Piastri looks like he's taken a step back for the time being.

 

In any sport, ALOT of athletes just are in it for the money. Only a handful want to change history and it's those very few that have it within themselves to make that change.

 

I agree and in an intensely individualized sport they’re easy to spot. They’re the ones who believe they’re capable of greatness no matter the obstacles. “I know I have the talent and the skill to be the best. I just need to develop my racecraft. I’m going to learn that from my team leader. And then I going to beat him.”

 

And some are in it because of the money(ahem).

 

Money is good. Why not do what you enjoy/love and get paid. Thats just fine!

 

I first saw a sign of Piastri's mental issues way back in China. In the post-race interview he made a snide comment that he wasn't happy that Lewis got more cheers from the crowd than he did.
Hello? How about winning one, let alone six or seven, driver's championship before carping about a lack of love from the fans buddy.

Definitely not a fan of Max's personality but as a racer there's no denying he's currently comfortably above everyone else.
Happy to see him taking it to McLaren and making the championship battle interesting.

 

Ok was Oscar joking. He and LH get along well actually.

 

Sadly, Ferrari can't even steal points to help themselves. Maybe they should try begging for them...or pay for them under the table. Each year they find a new way to create disaster.