Verstappen helped design RB20: 'I provide input, they adjust'

Max Verstappen became world champion in Formula 1 last season with a record number of race wins. Even on the first day of testing in Bahrain, the Dutchman made himself heard again with the fastest time. The RB20 used a slightly different concept compared to the RB19. Verstappen explains his role, and what he means for the new car.

Verstappen helped indirectly with RB20

The reigning world champion says he is not directly involved in designing the new car, but does help indirectly, for example on the RB20. "I just give my input of course on what I think could be even better about the old car. And they then naturally go and work in that new car to put that in, of course," the 26-year-old driver explained.

Verstappen recently said he did not care whether he became world champion with 22 race wins or five, as long as he stands with the biggest possible prize in his hands at the end of the season. Verstappen is at least hopeful for next season. "It is going well right now at the first test days, the feeling and the balance is right away," he said.

Immediately on the first day of testing in Bahrain, Verstappen drove the fastest time of the entire Formula 1 field. He was 1.1 seconds faster than P2 on the timesheet, Lando Norris. After the session, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko said the difference is not as huge as it seems, estimating the difference to be three tenths in favour of the team from Austria.