Verstappen gives important tip for F1 rookies: 'First year not necessary'

Formula 1 will have several drivers this coming season with Nyck de Vries, Oscar Piastri and Logan Sargeant preparing for their first season in the motorsport class. Speaking to American NBC Sports, Max Verstappen gives clear advice for the rookies.

The country can look forward to a Formula 1 year with an American flavour. Not only is Las Vegas, Miami and Austin hosting a season with three race weekends in the United States, American Sargeant is also competing on behalf of Williams.

Verstappen sees a great talent in Sargeant, but hopes he can find the peace of mind to get used to Formula 1 in 2023. Indeed, according to the two-time world champion, it is not easy to keep up with the level, taking time to show your qualities.

"He's in a team where he's not going to fight for wins, but it's maybe good," analyses Verstappen. "In the first year, you don't necessarily need that or want that. Of course, everyone wants to win, but when you have very little experience..."

He then looks back at his own career, which started at Toro Rosso in 2015. "I'm also very happy that I started at Toro Rosso, for example. You just build up experience, you can make mistakes and nobody really pays a lot of attention to it."