The Max Verstappen Thread

[Michael Ferner]

Bottom post of the previous page:

Thanks for the lengthy replies!

I was initially sceptical of Marko and Rindt "growing up together", but then I googled and indeed, Marko is just one year younger which surprised me! But they definitely didn't start racing together, you can see in the Bergrennen photo Marko is still in a Formula Vee, a beginners class at least three steps below the F2 Rindt is seated in, and by then Rindt was already well established in F1.

Anyway, I did a bit of online research myself (not much you can find), but it seems indeed that the managerial team that took over Jaguar for Red Bull was much more Arden than RSM Marko (in fact, no RSM Marko at all it seems). That was basically the thing I wanted to find out. Marko's role in the team appears to have been as an 'advisor' all the time, so basically a sponsor's liaison man in my understanding. Red Bull the F1 team is Horner, not Marko.

[P. Cornelius Scipio]

guys let me just say that reading this forum is always a huge pleasure and a source of extremely valuable information

[Aty]

In re: Bahrain, post race chat



Max didn't have good time. Him moving to Mercedes seems rather premature. Both Mercedes drivers are performing well and if one leaves, it will be most likely on his volition. RB21 is plainly not a WDC contender, and whether RB can do something about it is hard to tell. Not much can happen during tripple header.

Max remains in the contention for WDC.

WCC is gone, I dare to say.

[Everso Biggyballies]

In re: Bahrain, post race chat



Max didn't have good time. Him moving to Mercedes seems rather premature. Both Mercedes drivers are performing well and if one leaves, it will be most likely on his volition. RB21 is plainly not a WDC contender, and whether RB can do something about it is hard to tell. Not much can happen during tripple header.

Max remains in the contention for WDC.

WCC is gone, I dare to say.

Red Bull have a major upgrade scheduled for Imola. Other than that all thiws Max is doing this that and his manager shouted at Marko is all clickbait. Its only race 4, still twenty to go.

[Aty]

In re: P6 / Bahrain

Max describes his experience with RB21.

[Aty]

I am going to gloat. It's not nice thing to do, but I am drowning in satisfaction that my rants on this subject had a point.

Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner blamed data correlation between the team’s old wind tunnel and the track as the reason behind their current struggles with their 2025 Formula 1 car, the RB21.

https://www.grandprix247.com/2025/04/16 ... t-watches/

Honda upon their return with McLaren had similar issue. Data acquisition at the track and those at home in comparative analysis didn't made any sense. Problem was resolved when it was discovered that dyno calibration was off. For that thousands of hour and money was wasted, relationship with client has taken nose dive, and label Honda got disgraced (for little whlle) on the global stage.

My point - FiA needs to let teams test their new cars in proper environment about three or four months prior a season starts. Teams should spent at the track as much as necessary. It's the only way how racing as a word becomes racing reality.

[XcraigX]

FiA needs to let teams test their new cars in proper environment about three or four months prior a season starts. Teams should spent at the track as much as necessary. It's the only way how racing as a word becomes racing reality.

I think everyone on this board agrees with this. Why can't anyone at the FIA reason this out and come to the same conclusion?

[MonteCristo]

Testing was, at one stage, completely out of control.

But the situations has now gone completely the other way. And it's a bit ridiculous when they're allowed to run older cars (so it's still costing them money).

If they'd tripled the amount of pre- and in-season testing allowed, it would still be a small fraction of what used to occur.

[Aty]

FiA needs to let teams test their new cars in proper environment about three or four months prior a season starts. Teams should spent at the track as much as necessary. It's the only way how racing as a word becomes racing reality.

I think everyone on this board agrees with this. Why can't anyone at the FIA reason this out and come to the same conclusion?

In a cynical way, I believe there is clash of objectives when the F1 series became a cash cow instead a racing body. In rather very minimal way this is how I perceive current situation.

A fan:

Believes he is watching competitive racing, with level playing field, and everyone has equal chance. Instead, in reality, he comes to the track to see well orchestrated theatrical performance masquerading as racing.

Governance:

It's a business first. (Marketing boss is in charge.) Overtaking is dangerous and should be eliminated. It makes cars to retire and that's no good for business. Sponsors don't like seeing their sticker plastered on a chunk of metal, and sitting in the garage.