Verstappen's title fight: 'Time to leave destructive tendencies behind'

With the RB16B, Red Bull Racing finally seems to be fulfilling its promise to offer Max Verstappen a car with which he can fight for the world title. Verstappen has waited a long time for it, but now the question is whether he is ready?

In karting Max Verstappen eventually won everything he could, and in Formula 1 the Dutchman already has ten victories to his name. Fighting for a world title in Formula 1 is something else though. Verstappen will have to work from a different angle, and the journalists at The Race are not unanimous on whether Verstappen is ready for this.

Verstappen ready for the world title?

''Is he ready? Of course he is. Verstappen is one of the most mentally resilient, psychologically airtight drivers that has ever sat on an F1 grid. He knows exactly how good he is, knows if he is not the champion then there’s a reason outside his control. You could call it ‘competitive arrogance’ if you liked but it’s just a realistic assessment of his own level,'' says Mark Hughes. Ed Straw is less sure about Max.

''You never really know how a driver will react to the intensity of a world championship fight until they have set foot in that undiscovered country. In Vertsappen’s case, the key question is if he can switch from his mindset of recent years of aggressively attempting to seize every opportunity and know when to attack and when to consolidate in the pressure points. If he can make the right decisions in battle with the pressure of the scoreboard on his shoulders, it will indicate he is destined to fulfil predictions of greatness.''

So two extremes at The Race. Where Hughes has full confidence in Verstappen, Straw has to see it first. A different voice is heard from experienced Formula 1 journalist Scott Mitchell. He gives Verstappen the benefit of the doubt, but also points out past problems.

Impulsive actions by Verstappen

''It’s time for Verstappen to prove his destructive tendencies are completely behind him. So far in his career, his big glories have come also hand-in-hand with flare-ups. At World and European Championship level in karting, Verstappen lost titles due to misjudgements and controversial incidents,'' Mitchell states.

Still Mitchell gives the Dutchman the benefit of the doubt. ''He’s become an increasingly effective sniper, so we can give him the benefit of the doubt. But he will need to prove that isn’t just talk if he is in a title-challenging position this year, and prove he can keep his impulsive streak in check,'' Mitchell concludes.