Verstappen should thank Red Bull and Honda: 'Big advances'

Max Verstappen made history in 2021 by becoming the first Dutchman ever to win a Formula 1 world title. It brought a lot of compliments to the Dutchman, but according to Mark Hughes, we shouldn't forget the achievements of Red Bull Racing and Honda.

Where in recent years Mercedes failed to make things difficult, this season was different. The Austrian team appeared to have a car on the track that could compete with Lewis Hamilton. The two drivers balanced each other out for a long time last season, with Verstappen eventually taking the win.

The Dutch driver has impressed with his amazing overtaking skills and guts on the track. Hughes however feels that Red Bull played the most important role in the development of the car. He tells that in an interview with The Race.

"The high-rake Red Bull’s extreme sensitivity to wing level was absolutely what was behind Mercedes’ campaign for the FIA to look at wing flexibility," writes Hughes, who attributes the world championship in part to the team. "Without the big advances made by both Red Bull and Honda that just would not have happened."