Max Verstappen recently raced in his 200th Grand Prix as a Red Bull driver in Hungary. This significant milestone was not something the Austrian racing team wanted to let pass unnoticed. In a new video, several F1 figures reflect on Verstappen’s achievement and explain what makes him such an exceptional talent. Race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase also contributes, making a surprising revelation.
Max Verstappen reached a remarkable milestone at the Hungaroring. The Dutch driver started his 200th Grand Prix with Red Bull. Unfortunately, the weekend did not yield the desired result – Verstappen finished ninth – but the Austrian team could not let the milestone pass quietly. In a new ‘Behind The Charge’ video from Red Bull, several colleagues of the four-time world champion discuss what makes Verstappen such a unique driver.
Among others, Red Bull team boss Laurent Mekies shares the initial reaction of Racing Bulls driver Isack Hadjar when he was told he would be taking on the role of team boss with the Austrians. “All he could say was: ‘Laurent, you’re going to work with Max! You don’t realize it yet, but: you’re really going to work with Max!’ That’s the impact he has not only on his fans, but also on his colleagues,” the Frenchman explains.
Stubbornness
Gianpiero Lambiase, Verstappen’s race engineer from day one at Red Bull, shares what it’s like to work with the driver. “Max is always portrayed as the villain on the track,” explains the British engineer. “But off the track, he’s the complete opposite. He’s a genuine, friendly giant, and I truly see him as a friend.” Verstappen’s kindness and helpfulness are not only underscored by teammate Yuki Tsunoda, but also colleagues Isack Hadjar, Gabriel Bortoleto, and Liam Lawson.
However, according to Lambiase, Verstappen is not the perfect driver. “What is Max’s limitation? It’s his stubbornness,” reveals the British engineer. “He thinks he knows best, and that can sometimes be a challenge as an engineer. You have to try to get through to him. I’ve accepted that even if he refuses to take your advice at that moment, he actually does take it on board. He won’t admit it, but he does follow your advice.”
