Verstappen.nl interviews Max, part 2: 'Hopefully the upward trend will continue'

Published on 01 March 2020 by Kees-Jan Koster

During the sixth and last day of the winter tests in Barcelona, Verstappen.nl spoke with Max Verstappen. In the first part we talked about last winter, the associated preparations and the expectations of the Aston Martin Red Bull Racing driver for the coming season. In part 2 we will discuss the rule changes for 2021 and look back on Max’ career.

To what extend will you engage with the car for 2021 this season?
“In the end it does not matter too much for me. I must make sure it goes well with the current car. I cannot really influence the next car, as I am not an aerodynamics specialist. I am also not experienced in suspension and those kinds of things, so I have to let the engineers do their job. It will be a very different car, so things said about the current car will not do much for the new one, as it is so different.”

Mercedes came up with the so called ‘DAS-system’ during the winter tests. Are you disappointed that teams from 2021 are getting more restricted in their ability to innovate, or is it a good thing?
“The aerodynamics people will of course not like it, they want to build cars with systems like that. But it is a good thing if we want to bring the field closer together. But in the end I do not think it will make too much of a difference, because if you would keep the current regulations for a couple of years, the field would close up automatically.”

“It is not good to keep changing the rules all the time, because then there will always be a team that finds something to be better than the rest. Even in the Formula 2 you see some distinction between the teams, while each car is essentially the same. Sometimes there is a difference of half a second between cars, purely because of the setup. It will always be like that.”

What do you think of the introduction of a budget cap? And do you think the playing field will be more equal?
“I do not think it will make much of a difference, because most teams are already investing heavily in the 2021 cars. The big teams can invest more, so they will have a head start into the new year. It may take a couple of years before you see a difference.”

It looks like that the number of races on the calendar will increase again over the coming years. Purely for yourself, do you think it is good enough already? Or would you rather do a Grand Prix every weekend?
“I think the current number of races is okay. I would not want to do any more, as we are already a lot away from home. It is not only the races, but also everything else in between. That is why I would not want to do any more Grand Prix. Not because I do not like it, but because it will be too busy. I think it is important to be able to have a life outside of Formula 1.”

In Australia you will be at the start of your sixth Formula 1 season. Is it all routine now, or are you still a bit tense at the start of a new season?
“I am looking forward to race again. You are working towards it, knowing what is coming. For the rest you try to make an as good as possible impression.”

How do you look back on the first five years in Formula 1?
“Quite okay. I have already achieved a lot more than I ever expected at such a young age. But when you are in Formula 1, you want to do it well. Fortunately we had some nice victories and I hope we will continue the upward trend, so we will eventually be able to go for the championship.”

Nowadays you see orange coloured grandstands at almost every circuit. How do you think you have so many fans worldwide and that so many Dutch fans travel all over the world to see you drive?
“First of all, I think they like the sport, the speed of a Formula 1 car is great. And the Dutch support their sportsman anyway. That is true for everything in which Dutch people compete. It is great that so many people come along.”

Do you pinch yourself when you see what you have achieved and the fact you belong to the best drivers in the world? Are you able to enjoy your time in Formula 1?
“I do not do that a lot, as I am always trying to improve. Formula 1 is the thing I have always wanted to achieve, that was the goal. So I want to make the best of it. I do not like to dwell on it too much. It is great what has happened already, but if you only enjoy it, you are not going to perform.”

Someone like Lewis Hamilton is more and more trying thing outside of Formula 1. Are you also looking into more other things in comparison to when you just started in Formula 1?
“Slowly. But it depends on what your hobbies are. Mine are always in racing. So in that respect I am staying mostly in the same word.”