Red Bull insider shares what F1 'villain' Max Verstappen is really like to work with
Formula 1 should be "grateful" for the presence of Max Verstappen. That is the view of the four-time champion's race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase who insists the divisive Dutchman is "the complete opposite" to how he is often portrayed.
Even at just 27, Verstappen is already one of the most successful drivers in F1 history. His search to become only the second driver to ever win five titles in a row, after Michael Schumacher, is set to come to an end this year, though, with Red Bull no longer the dominant force on the grid.
He has celebrated two Grand Prix victories so far this year, and also the 200th race of his career with the team. To mark that milestone, Red Bull have release a video feature on YouTube in which Lambiase is one of several figures to pay tribute to all he has accomplished.
And the engineer insists Verstappen is not the "villain" he is sometimes made out to be. "Here at the track, Max, he is portrayed as the villain of the paddock but, away from the track, he is the complete opposite," Lambiase said.
"He is the most sincere, gentle giant and a very likeable character. I consider him a top friend." That is despite some often testy exchanges between them over the radio, which is simply how the two communicate best, despite the extremely blunt tone with which messages to one another are often delivered.
"Max's limitation? His stubbornness," Lambiase smiled. "He knows best and that is an engineering challenge, to try and get yourself under his skin and into his head. I have come to accept that, even if at the time, he refuses to take in your recommendation, actually, he is absorbing it like a sponge, and he will not admit it, but he will then go and do what you have asked."
And in terms of his ability, Lambiase is convinced that Verstappen is the latest of the true greats to grace the grid. He added: "Max is clearly a generational talent. He has followed... in recent years, Schumacher, Lewis [Hamilton], and he has taken on that mantle.
"And I think what he has brought to this paddock... You see it in his relationship with the rookies nowadays, they are all looking up to him and aspiring to be him and to achieve what he has achieved. So, I think Formula 1 needs to be grateful for that."
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Verstappen recently committed to sticking with Red Bull for the 2026 campaign, though his future beyond next season looks to be up in the air. The Dutchman will want to be in the fastest car he can find and Helmut Marko, the team adviser who is also one of the racer's closest allies, has admitted that they could lose him if they are not quick enough.
The Austrian said: "Nobody knows what the situation will be like in 2026. Mercedes declares itself the favourite, but there is no evidence. Also in terms of chassis, you do not know who will hit the jackpot. There is a lot of uncertainty. From his perspective, it makes much more sense to stay, wait and see. If it turns out next year that we are not competitive, he can always reconsider his decision."
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