P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen has long been able to easily out-pace his F1 team-mates at Red Bull, leading to questions over if the car or the driver is making the difference.
Former F1 team principal Otmar Szafnauer has suggested that there is a “Max factor” at Red Bull that sets Verstappen apart from his teammates.
Verstappen has consistently outperformed his teammates in recent seasons, with Yuki Tsunoda being the latest to partner with the Dutchman.
The challenging nature of the Red Bull car, with its narrow operating window, has made it difficult for drivers to find optimal performance.
Despite scoring only one victory in the first six races of the season, Verstappen is starting to fall behind the McLaren drivers in the championship standings.
In a recent episode of RacingNews365 featuring Szafnauer, the discussion revolved around whether the RB21 car is superior or if Verstappen’s driving prowess makes the difference.
Szafnauer pointed out the stark performance difference between Tsunoda and Verstappen, highlighting the “Max factor” and comparing it to the competitive dynamics within McLaren’s driver lineup.
