06/02/2019
NEWS STORY
Whatever one might think of some aspects of his approach to racing, there is no denying that almost from the get-go it was clear that Max Verstappen has balls and speed.
Though the red mist has sometimes caused him to fail, the main thing preventing him going head-to-head with the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel on a regular basis over the last couple of seasons has been the lack of outright grunt from the engine in the back of his car.
Though it remains to be seen whether Honda can help the Dutch youngster in his efforts, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner insists he is the biggest threat to the Hamilton, who fears him above all others.
"If you look at his performance in the second half of the last year, he was the second highest points scorer to Lewis," Horner told reporters as preparations for the new season continue. "I don't think he lacks anything that they have, and if we can provide him the tools to do the job, he's probably the driver that they fear the most.
"His maturity has increased, we saw that during the course of last year," said Horner, though, other than the unnecessary clash with his teammate in Baku, many still question his actions in Brazil, not least the subsequent altercation with Esteban Ocon.
"He's just much more rounded through experience," the Briton continued. "He's just more worldly, more experienced, he's just in a better place to be able to deal with the pressures that are placed on him."
At a time Verstappen's great rival is preparing to battle for a sixth title, Horner suggested also that at some stage age will begin to take its toll on Hamilton.
"Lewis is at a different stage of his career, he has all that experience but he is 34," he said, "and at some point it is only natural that the brightness of that talent will start to fade. Can he have that speed all the time? It's just human. In 10 years, it will be the same for Max."
Asked about Verstappen's public service punishment for his actions in Brazil, which saw him forced to attend a Formula E race in order to observe the work of the stewards, Horner admitted that it was an enlightening experience for the youngster.
"It was interesting talking to him after the Formula E race. Not that he was particularly impressed by Formula E, but he came way from being with the stewards and said: 'Crikey, these guys have got difficult decisions to make in terms of do they impose a penalty or do they not.'"