Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner doesn’t understand why Max Verstappen receives so much criticism.
He’s arguably the most exciting driver to come into F1 in the last decade but like most drivers who rock the establishment, Max Verstappen has divided opinions in the F1 world.
Christian Horner, rather unsurprisingly, doesn’t get the hate and wants people to stop moaning about the Dutch teenager.
“I don’t really understand what they are moaning about,” said the Red Bull Racing Team Principal. “He is doing a great job and driving the wheels off the car and he is racing hard. When sometimes a new guy comes along and upsets the establishment a bit then they do get a bit of criticism. He is not rising to that. He is keeping his head down and enjoying his racing.
“Anything that de-stabilises an established pecking order is always not well received. I don’t think he has done anything wrong. He has raced hard, he is exciting and giving it everything every time he is in the car, and he loves what he is doing. He is passionate about it.”
Perhaps most worrying for Verstappen’s rivals though is that Horner believes there’s still plenty of room for improvement.
“He has done an enormously impressive job. To have jumped in the car and won his first grand prix and then go on to finish on the numerous podiums that he has achieved.
“Any sportsman can always improve in all areas. He is gaining experience all the time. As he gains that experience it just holds in better stead for the coming years. Of course there are always areas that you can improve. It is working on those marginal returns.”