Impressive Verstappen: 'That was shocking for someone his age'

Max Verstappen has a good chance of capturing the World Championship this season. Xevi Pujolar is not surprised. The engineer experienced his first metres in a Formula 1 car at Toro Rosso and immediately knew he was dealing with a special driver.

His thoughts often go back to 2014 when Verstappen tested a Formula One car for the first time in Italy. "That was a wet session and it was very impressive right away," the Spaniard told The People's Newspaper.

"I could immediately see that he had been racing for a very long time and that someone had taught him a lot. Max already knew exactly how the world worked and what he needed to focus on. That was shocking for someone his age."

Development of Verstappen

The pair got to know each other better and better in the years that followed. Both men turned out to be pretty obsessive about their craft and took each other to ever greater heights, according to Pujolar.

"Max is someone who pushes on every detail, on every level. From the engine and car to the tyres. Conversely, he wants to see everyone around him try to get the most out of it as well. We are both pretty extreme in that respect. Sometimes I pushed drivers maybe more than they wanted. Then I saw them crack and I thought: I have to take a step back."