Former team boss Franz Tost has an idea of what makes Max Verstappen ‘so superior’. Despite driving a less powerful car, the Dutchman is currently just behind the McLaren drivers in the drivers’ championship. According to Tost, Verstappen’s former team boss during his Toro Rosso days, there is one quality of the driver that is worth millions.
Even though Max Verstappen does not have the fastest car on the grid this season and has struggled with issues with the RB21 multiple times, the Dutchman is only twelve points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri. Verstappen even claimed a magnificent victory in Japan. Franz Tost, Verstappen’s former team boss at the then Toro Rosso, is not surprised.
According to the former team boss, Verstappen is ‘simply three-tenths per lap faster than anyone else’. “Last year, Max did a test with a Ferrari GT race car. He was immediately two seconds faster than the rest,” Tost told F1-Insider. “Max has a sense of speed, an incredibly good overview, and an incredible control and feel for the car. It doesn’t matter which one. He masters every Formula 1 car immediately. Of course, he then adjusts the car to his driving style.”
Verstappen Worth Millions
Tost explains how Verstappen’s natural speed equates to millions of euros in development for an F1 car. “Normally, you can’t make such a step (in terms of speed) with an update,” the Austrian continues. “Unless you happen to find a miracle part. Normally, it takes a very long time to make your car three-tenths per lap faster. Extrapolated over a year, that costs ten million. At least.”
Tost therefore hopes for Red Bull that the team can improve the RB21 with the planned update in Imola. “Everyone will try to get him on board. But the question is whether Max will go to another team. Max and his advisors will carefully consider where the chances of success are greatest.”
