Max Verstappen is considered one of the most talented racers of the turbo-hybrid era. After a hat-trick of World Titles, the Dutchman has earned a reputation for being fierce and brave. From speculative maneuvers to impeccable drifts, Verstappen has it all.
However, the past few weeks have been dreary for the RBR starlet. With his fourth WDC on the line, the 26-year-old is undoubtedly under immense pressure. As a result, the intensity is missing while he struggles for form. This was recently pointed out by a former F1 driver, who thinks the “Verstappen Magic” has been missing for a while.
“Doesn’t Fight That Hard,” Jacques Villeneuve Claims Max Verstappen Appears Reticent In Recent Weekends
Just a few races back, Verstappen was getting criticism from every corner after a raging radio chime during the Hungary GP. The Red Bull personnel had to come up to defend him, highlighting his passion for racing. However, that was just the beginning of a winless drought for Verstappen—something he hadn’t experienced in the past few years. Following his P5 finish, which could have been P7, Verstappen remained unfazed, holding his emotions back. The “subtle change” to RB20’s floor made it bouncy, and the Dutchman had to surrender due to the “zero bite.” However, during the post-race interactions, the RBR starlet went into a shell, hesitant to make any remarks.
This lack of intent has surprised Jacques Villeneuve. During his interaction with SKY F1, the former World Champion claimed Verstappen has been “downbeat” in his last few outings. Moreover, his lack of fight is visible during the races as he is no longer feisty. Further, Villeneuve also emphasized Verstappen’s radio silence, indicating something has changed. This might have been due to RB20’s underwhelming performance, with his teammate outpacing him throughout the race.
Max Verstappen Set For Strong Comeback In Singapore?
Beating all the “downbeat” allegations, Max Verstappen was optimistic after the Baku race. He claimed the team could be much better and asserted that the fight for the World Title is far from over. The Dutchman was backed by his team leader, Christian Horner. The Briton believes RB20 will perform better during the Singapore GP.
The RBR Chief said the technical team is analyzing all the data. Thus, their only motive was to fix the disparity between the two cars, which was not “prominent.” Thus, Horner is hopeful of delivering more performances for the upcoming weekend. However, the new subtle floor update, as described by Helmut Marko, will be fruitful on the forthcoming tracks. It is expected to positively impact the performance from the Austin race onwards.
