Max Verstappen responds to the theory that he could have competed with the McLarens in a Racing Bulls car. Fernando Alonso came to this conclusion during the Dutch GP weekend, where Racing Bulls driver Isack Hadjar climbed the podium for the first time. ‘The Racing Bulls car would not be enough to beat McLaren,’ Verstappen disagrees with his Spanish colleague.
Although the title fight between McLaren teammates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris is not over yet – the Australian has a 34-point World Championship lead after the Brit’s retirement at Zandvoort – it does seem that the World Cup will go to Woking this year. Championship leader Piastri has a lead of 104 points over Max Verstappen, and was once again too strong for the current world champion at Circuit Zandvoort, where the Australian claimed his first Grand Slam.
Even Fernando Alonso is watching from the sidelines as the McLarens increasingly disappear from Verstappen’s view. The Spaniard came to a striking conclusion: in a Racing Bulls car, the Dutchman would have been competing for the title. “If Verstappen had been in the Racing Bulls car, he would be fighting for the world championship,” Alonso told AS. “We saw it earlier this year with Yuki Tsunoda. He always finished in the top six with Racing Bulls, but now he can’t get past Q1.”
Verstappen Responds
Verstappen was asked in Monza about the theory, including Alonso’s, that he would perform better in the VCARB02. The Dutchman honestly admits that he is not interested in testing the sister team’s car. “I just need to focus on my own car and see how we can improve it,” Verstappen states clearly. “I wouldn’t be able to win races with that car (VCARB02). It wouldn’t be enough to beat McLaren. So it’s not something I’m thinking about, no.”
