Max's criticisms of F1’s new regulations generated a lot of noise in the paddock, but now the Dutchman received important backing Sebastian Buemi, a former driver in the category and current development driver for Red Bull, came out to fully support him.
Buemi knows F1 well. He debuted in 2009 with Toro Rosso and was on the grid until 2011 before Red Bull gave him a spot in their structure as a simulator driver, a role that gained weight over the years until he became a key piece for the team’s development. From the inside, he saw how the cars that dominated the previous era were built, and he also sees how they’re dealing with this regulation change that Verstappen just can’t get behind.
The start of the season for Red Bull didn’t help calm things down. In Australia, Verstappen started from the back after a qualifying issue and had to fight his way up to sixth. In China, he retired outright with a reliability problem while his teammate Isack Hadjar only managed to score a couple of points. The team that won everything in recent years now seems lost, and that only fueled the Dutchman’s criticisms even more.
Buemi didn’t hold back when asked about it. He said he can’t disagree with what Verstappen is saying and that his opinion is extremely important because the guy has won four championships and knows what he’s talking about.
The Swiss driver also made an interesting comparison. He said he’s been in Formula E for many years and sees similarities with what’s happening now in F1. There are things that work better and others that are a disaster, but at the end of the day, the driver has to adapt and give his best even if it’s a streetcar.
Buemi’s support isn’t a small detail. The Swiss knows the ins and outs of the team. He was in the structure when they were winning everything, and now he sees from the inside the difficulties they’re facing with a car that doesn’t respond and regulations that left them at a disadvantage.
Verstappen has been saying for months that this new format takes away the driver’s importance and that overtaking or defending comes down to pushing a button instead of having more guts in the corner. Those words created some backlash, but Buemi considers them valid.
The situation at Red Bull is delicate. Visa Cash App Racing Bulls, their B team, has the same number of points as the main team in the constructors’ championship, something that hasn’t happened since 2008.
Verstappen is in the middle of the storm, and while some are telling him to shut up, Buemi sided with him and said to keep talking because he has every right. F1 is going through a moment of technical definition, and the drivers are starting to pick sides. In this case, the one who spoke up is a guy who knows what it’s like to be on the inside and isn’t afraid to say things as he sees them.