As Crash.net reports, Max Verstappen has thrown his unfiltered opinion into the ongoing debate surrounding Ferrari's driver pairing. The Red Bull driver capitalised directly on a first-lap skirmish in Mexico between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, a chaotic moment that ultimately handed victory to the four-time world champion.
Speaking over the Sao Paulo Grand Prix weekend, the Dutchman made it crystal clear that he would handle things entirely differently if he sat in the team principal's chair. In an interview with Viaplay, he argued that running two top-tier talents inevitably leads to on-track drama because neither driver is willing to give an inch.
“I’ve said it before, and a lot of people often don’t agree, but if I was a team principal, I’d never get two ‘No 1’ drivers because then you get things like this,” Verstappen stated. He added that neither man will yield because they both genuinely believe they can win, a mindset he completely understands.
According to the Red Bull star, establishing a clear hierarchy prevents these messy scenarios entirely. He pointed out that with a defined number one and number two, the squad could have comfortably swept the opening corner and secured strong team points.
Meanwhile, the garage has been busy putting out fires. Hamilton confirmed to Sky Sports F1 that he and Leclerc sat down with Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur in Brazil, had a chat, and completely squashed the issue. The driver insisted that there is still a huge amount of respect between them and that they are ready to move forward.
Vasseur himself stepped in to clarify that the team's internal guidelines have not changed at all. The team principal explained that the drivers simply accumulated a bit of frustration from constantly starting weekends side by side, but reiterated that mutual respect and loyalty to the brand remain absolute requirements.
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