Hughes notes: 'Verstappen seems to have developed special driving style'

On Wednesday, Max Verstappen took his first seat in the RB18 for the first day of testing in Barcelona. Mark Hughes is present at the circuit and notes that the driving style of the Dutchman has changed compared to last season.

Verstappen is known for his aggressive driving style, but he seems to be trading that in for a new style in the new car. "Incredibly smooth, early on the brakes, but early on the power too, super-smooth steering inputs. It’s as if he had developed a special style – in the simulator? – predicated upon maximising the effectiveness of the powerful new underfloor venturi tunnels", Hughes analyses on the website of The Race.

The Dutchman will want to handle his new Red Bull as effectively as possible. In terms of aerodynamics, the car has changed a lot due to the new regulations. According to journalist Hughes, the car may have new characteristics, and Verstappen is the first driver who understands that a new approach is needed.

The Brit compares the Red Bull driver to Charles Leclerc, who also has an aggressive driving style and is still using it at the Barcelona circuit. The Ferrari driver drives his car hard into the corners, almost blocking his front tyres. "It looked great and it’s maybe how the Ferrari demands to be driven – and on the stopwatch, it was quicker than the Red Bul", he says. Verstappen's modified driving style could well be a harbinger of a new era in Formula One, according to Hughes.