Team bosses Red Bull and Mercedes praise Max

Published on 21 May 2015 by Niels Hendrix

Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner admitted in Monaco he was also impressed by Max Verstappen.

“I thought it was super”, said Horner, who joked: “For a guy that can’t rent a hire car yet, I mean it’s enormously impressive. 17 years of age… I think the two Toro Rosso drivers actually have done a wonderful job this year. It’s one of the positive stories in Formula 1 at the moment those two young rookies that Red Bull have given a chance. They’re here on merit and it shows that the junior programme is most definitely working.”

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff also lauded Verstappen’s lap in first free practice, saying: ”Clearly for Max, finishing P2 on a track he has never been to, in these conditions, is good. But as Christian said, I wouldn’t underestimate Carlos’ performances either. I think it shows, if you have two team-mates who compete on a similar level, they push each other and the rivalry is very good.”