Tost: 'Nobody even comes close to Verstappen'

It was Franz Tost who, as team boss of the then Toro Rosso, saw Max Verstappen take his first steps in Formula 1. At the Italian team, the then very young Dutchman immediately showed he had a huge talent. Verstappen has since been in the Red Bull for years, with which he is dominating Formula 1 this season. Tost, still employed by Red Bull's sister team (now called AlphaTauri), expects this to continue for some time.

Earlier, George Russell, for example, indicated that he expects Red Bull Racing's lead over the rest of the field to be such for now that the Austrians will win every race this season. Asked by Oe24 about his expectation, Tost responded the same: "In terms of performance level, yes! Only nothing should happen [in terms of technical problems]."

'Verstappen has exceptional talent'

The Austrian team boss is once again full of praise for Verstappen, whom he saw leave for the big Red Bull team after just over a season. Meanwhile, Verstappen has two world titles under his belt and seems to be on his way to a third. At the moment, there is no measure of the Dutchman. Tost knows why: "Red Bull has built him a very good car and has a sensational technical team. That and his exceptional talent result in the perfect combination. Nobody even comes close."

The relative predictability of the results may be considered boring by neutral fans. In Germany and Austria, for example, the number of Formula 1 viewers is declining, perhaps because Red Bull is winning every race these days. Tost is not worried about the current state of Formula 1. He erased that almost everywhere F1 descends, circuits are sold out. That the number of TV viewers declines in certain countries has another cause, Tost believes: there are no local heroes active in the sport then.

"When I came to Germany in 1988, Formula 1 was a marginal subject. Then Michael Schumacher came and the ratings went through the roof. The same in Spain with Alonso," says Tost.