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Rosberg Doesn't See Verstappen Becoming Champion at Red Bull

09:15, 14 Mar 2018

byNicolás Quarles van Ufford

Former world champion Nico Rosberg is a big fan of Dutch prodigy Max Verstappen, but doesn't think that he'll have the tools to become world champion at Red Bull

"He's such an asset to the sport," Rosberg tells F1 Racing. "If Max crashes out of a race, even I'm a bit disappointed, because the race will be a bit more boring from that point on. Max is a driver that always just goes for it, he creates possibilities even when there aren't any. Look at Austin last season, when he battled with Raikkonen," he referenced to the American Grand Prix, when Verstappen eventually spectacularly overtook Raikkonen in the last lap to snatch third place, but had gone off the track when doing so which meant that the move was deemed illegal.

"Only Max would've gone for that. No other driver would even have the idea of trying a move there, never mind successfully executing it."

What surprises Rosberg however, is that Verstappen was so quick to extend his contract at Red Bull Racing until the end of 2020. The German doesn't see Red Bull seriously contending for the title any time soon, which is something he should be doing, even though he is only 20 years old.

"It was a strange decision, because he doesn't have the best car there, and the two teams who were better at the time had rolled out the red carpet for him to join them. I have no idea what convinced him [to extend his contract at Red Bull]."

"Why would you sign that contract so quickly? I don't see Max winning a championship at Red Bull, simply because Mercedes is so unbelievably good and Ferrari has a very good package too."

"Do Red Bull even have any talent left on the aerodynamics-department? I know Adrian Newey doesn't work there full time anymore."