Scuderia Ferrari team boss Frederic Vasseur has dismissed Max Verstappen’s assertion that he would have claimed the Formula 1 championship even earlier this season if he had been driving a McLaren MCL38 or a Ferrari SF-24 instead of his current Red Bull car.
The Dutch driver secured his fourth consecutive Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship with two races remaining by finishing ahead of Lando Norris in Las Vegas. This victory followed a remarkable recovery drive to the top step of the podium in Brazil, marking a critical moment in a season that had seen Verstappen endure a challenging mid-season phase, including a streak of 10 races without a victory. McLaren’s aerodynamic upgrades introduced in Miami reignited their title hopes, and soon after, competitive developments from Mercedes and Ferrari brought them into contention at the sharp end of the grid.
Following his triumph in Las Vegas, Max Verstappen told reporters he believes he could have clinched the championship “even earlier” had he been behind the wheel of a rival car, such as a McLaren or Ferrari.
However, Ferrari Team Principal Frederic Vasseur has expressed skepticism about Max Verstappen’s claim, arguing that Formula 1 is far too complex and unpredictable for such statements to hold weight. According to the Frenchman, the countless variables that define success in F1 make the suggestion speculative at best: ““It makes no sense to think or say that in another team Max Verstappen would have won the same since it is not possible to separate the performance of a driver from that of his car. There are too many elements involved.” – the Frenchman pointed out.
Fred Vasseur went on to reinforce his argument by proposing a hypothetical scenario in which the Dutchman had driven the McLaren MCL38, the car that ultimately secured the Constructors’ Championship. In doing so, he aimed to further illustrate the complexities and uncertainties involved in making definitive claims about alternate outcomes: “It makes no sense to say that Verstappen would have won in a McLaren as well since the quality level of Woking’s team also depends on feedback and work done with its current drivers.” – the former Alfa Romeo team principal explained.
At the same time, Frederic Vasseur commended the Dutchman’s exceptional ability to consistently “maximize the result,” acknowledging his skill in extracting the best performance from his car in any situation. He also pointed out that in 2024, Red Bull’s typically dominant position in Formula 1 was challenged, as their competitors were now close enough to capitalize on any dip in performance. This was in stark contrast to previous seasons, where Red Bull’s lead was often insurmountable, allowing them to operate with far less pressure from rival teams.
“In 2022 and 2023 the Red Bull was much better. When you have six-tenths [margin], you can make mistakes and nobody notices it and you are beatified. This year, however, it was enough [of] a small mistake to make the team of Milton Keynes down to sixth place.”
Although the Ferrari team boss disagreed with Max Verstappen’s assertion, he did concede that the Dutchman’s remarkable talent for extracting the maximum from his car during Red Bull’s struggles played a pivotal role in ensuring he held onto the championship title: “What impressed me about Verstappen this year was his ability to extract the best even when they struggled. And this is a lesson for us, because over the course of a season in such a competitive context there are races where we are not the strongest, but it is necessary to maximize the result. To win, you need to make a difference when you’re not in the right place – that’s where he has made a difference.” – the Ferrari team principal concluded.
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