Giedo van der Garde: "Would've loved to race Max"
Published on 15 November 2015 by Stefan Meens
At the start of the 2015 Formula 1 season, it seemed Max Verstappen was not going to be the only Dutch driver on the grid. However, Guido van der Gardo, despite winning five lawsuits against Sauber, did not make it. Instead, Felipe Nasr and Marcus Ericsson took the Dutchman's seat.
Despite missing out on a spot on the F1 grid, Van der Garde still follows the sport and in particular Max. “I would've loved to have raced against Max. I have known him and the family for many years so that would've been special. But unfortunately it never happened”, explains Van der Garde on Redbull.com. “I think we would've been able to have a nice fight at the beginning of the season. The Saubers were pretty competitive but they drifted off the pace as the season progressed. So I wouldn’t have caused Max any problems at this stage in the season.”
Being a true racer, Van der Garde still follows Formula 1. “I guess I can look at the sport from an insider's perspective and I am of course extra focussed on what Max is doing. He makes it all the more special.” Van der Garde, like many others, was surprised by the incredible rise of Max to the pinnacle of motor sport.
“He was so young when he entered F1. He was just a boy, not even eighteen and not much experience in single seaters. But if you look at how he stood firm and is constantly learning, it's really good. It really highlights his incredible talent. Additionally he managed to improve his weaknesses. For example, there was certainly room for improvement in terms of qualifying but is particular the last few races, he just keeps on developing and improving himself. It's great to witness that.”
Van de Garde points out he sees the difference between Max and the other rookies like Felipe Nasr and Carlos Sainz. He notices a drop off in the learning curve of the two after a strong start to their season. “Sainz is making a few too many mistakes in the last couple of races and it really shows the pressure is on. Max, however, is only improving. Of course that's also partly because of the collaboration with the team as wells the good results. Confidence is important in Formula 1, it could be the difference between one or two tenths a lap.”
Like in his own rookie season, the Hungarian Grand Prix, traditionally the last race before the summer break, proved a turning point in Max' debut year. “I was a rookie and Budapest marked a change in my season. I only improved from that moment onwards, just like Max.”
Van der Garde admits that Max is on a different level that he was and that Verstappen junior's stint in F1 should be longer than his. Van der Garde's Formula 1 career stretched from a season racing for Catherham in 2013 to a year as Sauber's third driver in 2014. He was set to race for the Swiss outfit in 2015 but the team opted for a driver who brought more money. Van der Garde therefore sees his F1 career at an end and is aiming to drive in different forms of motor sport. Additionally, he is going to be Pirellis new development driver.
He still keeps in touch with Max and Jos Verstappen, mainly via Whatsapp, but never gives Max any advice. “Max doesn't need any advice from me. He has achieved more than me already. Also, Max has the best coach in Jos. But if I had to give him advice, than I would encourage him to do what he's doing now: racing incredibly fast.”
Orginal source: www.redbull.nl/maxverstappen
