Max Verstappen celebrating - Photo: Race Pictures

Verstappen’s approach too ‘risky’ for Piastri and Norris

17:43, 30 Sep

byNorberto Mujica

Max Verstappen's commitment to motor racing was fully on display once again during his NLS debut at the Nürbürgring Nordschleife, a venture deemed too risky for title contenders Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.

I think Max is a great driver, but it’s like any of us driving on the road at home. You can’t be responsible for the guys around you.

- Bernie Collins

The Nürbürgring Nordschleife isn't known as “The Green Hell” for no reason, since fatalities and heavy crashes remain a constant at the legendary German track. So, Verstappen's successful proffesional debut at the track raised a few eyebrows.

Former Aston Martin Strategist Bernie Collins believed the Dutchman's extracurricular outing to be far too dangerous, particularly when teams even refrain from allowing drivers to ski during the winter break.

“I had one thought on this at home on the weekend," she said. "Obviously, over the winter, a lot of teams prevent drivers from going skiing or snowboarding or mountain biking or any of these things that could potentially injure themselves.

"Well, like it literally says on the pass, motorsport is dangerous. Like driving around the Nordschleife in a slower car,” she said referring to Verstappen's recent run at the Green Hell to obtain his A Permit, a prerequisite to race at the iconic German track professionally.

Max Verstappen, Helmut Marko and Laurent Mekies at Monza - Photo: Red Bull Content Pool

Collins then opined that if Verstappen was a realistic title contender and if Red Bull were still in the fight for the Constructors’, then the Dutchman's incursion at the Nordschleife would not have taken place, due to the inherent danger.

“So, if he were racing for the world championship, if Red Bull were racing for the Constructors’ championship, it should be a slightly different decision.

“I think Max is a great driver, but it’s like any of us driving on the road at home. You can’t be responsible for the guys around you. A big accident could happen at any time. So it’s a risk, I don’t know if that’s the engineer in me talking.”

Her colleague and former F1 driver Karun Chandhok agreed, albeit with a Lewis Hamilton caveat.

Photo: Race Pictures

“If it’s Oscar or Lando, absolutely, it’s not worth the risk,” he said.

“But, I think you also have to think of the characters. I think Fernando or a Max, they get energised by driving all the time.

“Again, it’s a bit like when people were saying about Lewis going to all these places and fashion shows, and Toto used to say, ‘Well, it’s what makes him happy and a happy Lewis is a faster Lewis.’

Red Bull feel very differently

When asked for his reaction to Verstappen getting the coveted permit, Red Bull Racing's chief advisor Helmut Marko commended the Dutchman for hiss commitment to motor racing, whilst taking a slight dig at F1 drivers who choose to go to fashion shows instead.

The 81-year-old Austrian, however, did set a boundary for Verstappen's endurance racing passion, taking the legendary 24 hours of Le Mans off the table… for now.

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