F1 drivers are often expected to offer valuable feedback when it comes to the development of the car. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has, however, revealed that he has little to no input on the 2021 car and he has now explained why to GPFans

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0:00 - Why Verstappen Has No Input On the 2021 Red Bull Car
1:20 - Fast Feed

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Why Verstappen Has No Input On the 2021 Red Bull Car

Verstappen began by expressing hope for better racing

“I just hope it’s better for racing to be honest. That’s all we need because the cars we have now, they are really tricky to follow. Of course, we’ve had some entertaining races but I think it can only get better with cars that are better to follow”

He added another important facet of the 2021 car’s development

“To recover that downforce [taken away] will be very critical and we will do that in the best way. We will be very competitive. So, we will have to look at that”

He then explained why he has minimal input

“It’s very different so I think it’s very difficult to have any kind of input. It’s down to the engineers, to the designers to come up with the fastest car they can think of and design. It’s going to be very different but let’s hope for the best”

He signed off by elaborating on the team’s plans for the future

“I think we have learnt a lot about our car last year which we will try to rectify for this year. We can’t do everything with the [development] tokens but it’s going to be an important year to perform. Of course, we’re looking already to 2022 and how that is going to go”


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F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali thinks that “eighty per cent of the races in 2020 have been spectacular. However,” they “have also seen negative things”

“For much of the season one team was in charge and often only one driver won. You can organize more races, but it will still be the same”

Which is why they “have to make Formula 1 exciting again”

Former F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone has stated that Ferrari founder “Enzo Ferrari was very special and helped” him “a lot

He taught” Bernie “that the sport is on the table and the business is under the table”

He also revealed that he misses F1, “especially doing deals with the organizers of some of the events and circuits”

2009 world champion Jenson Button has suggested that “normal cars that run on petrol you're not going to be able to buy in ten years' time”

He further added that the “future will always be in electricity, in any form of motorsport. When you first step on the accelerator, you feel that speed and then all thoughts of a V8 engine go away”

Dutch Grand Prix Sporting Director, Jan Lammers feels that Haas’ Mick Schumacher is a “slow starter who gets into it gradually”

He further explained that “in the end, he can definitely do something, otherwise you don't win championships in Formula 3 and Formula 2, but we can't expect him to impress right from the start”

He also implied that “it’s also difficult, when you still have so much to learn in Formula 1, and you are with a team that can teach you so little, that is always difficult”

McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo believes that if they “really believe in” F1’s fight against racism “and defend it firmly, there is no reason to end it”

He also hopes “to educate” himself “and educate others around” him and “if that means that” they “will maintain a posture similar to that of 2020, then, certainly”

Red Bull’s technical director Adrian Newey “saw Red Bull as a startup team, something that really appealed to” him when he was signed by the team

He added that “nobody knew where things would go with Red Bull, but the first goal was to get to a position where” they “could win races”

“From there” they “would see. So, the success” they've “had over the years has been very rewarding for” him


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