Verstappen: “Give Me a Car and I Win Everything on My Own”

Max Verstappen has once again looked back with a mix of pride and nostalgia. The Dutch Red Bull driver four-time world champion, has recalled the 2023 season, when he won 19 of the 22 races disputed and led the team to the constructors' title practically alone, a feat that far from seeming a burden to him, seemed "great" to him, now with Isack Hadjar adding podiums and the team recovering its course, Verstappen glimpses a less lonely future although he maintains his demand intact: first, a fast car.

"This shows that we are on the right track, now it's about not deviating from it and continuing to work hard, there are still many things we must improve, the fact that we have won again lately does not mean that we are now the best, but it shows us that we are on the right track. Now we must not deviate from it, although I don't see any danger in that sense either. We have the right people in the right positions" Verstappen declared to Sport Bild.

The Dutchman remains the undisputed spearhead of the team, but Hadjar, in his second season, has begun to share the weight: "He is doing well, it was not easy for him at the beginning because the car was very complicated and he is only in his second season but since then he was able to overcome it and was able to climb onto the podium twice, that is important for the team" Verstappen added with enthusiasm, acknowledging his teammate's progress.

Despite the improvement, Max (faithful to his style) has not lost his ambition: "I always tell the team: 'Give me a fast car and we will all have a better life'. In 2023 I demonstrated that you can win the constructors' world championship even with a single driver, for many it was boring but to me it seemed great. I would love to experience it again" the Dutchman stated, leaving a declaration that summarizes his competitive mentality and that he does not care about carrying all the weight if that means winning.

However, the reality of 2026 is very different: Red Bull is 252 points behind Mercedes in the constructors' championship, a practically insurmountable disadvantage and although the team has improved in the last races with Verstappen achieving victories in Malaysia and Singapore and Hadjar adding a podium in Baku, the reality is that the title is already a utopia. The focus is set on 2027 when Red Bull hopes to be competitive again from the start.

Verstappen, for his part, remains the undisputed leader of the team, his talent and his work capacity have made him one of the best drivers in history and his demand is the engine that drives Red Bull. Hadjar's arrival and the team's progress allow him to dream of a less lonely future but the Dutchman has clear that the key is in the car, with a competitive car Verstappen does not need a teammate to win.

The 2023 story is the proof and he, just in case, has already left the message: "Give me a fast car and we will all have a better life".