Former F1 Team Principal doubts Verstappen can be matched in same team

Former AlphaTauri Team Principal Franz Tost is doubtful that Max Verstappen can be matched in the same team.

Verstappen managed to outscore teammate Sergio Perez by over twice as many points in 2023 on his way to a third World Championship in a row.

He took 19 victories while Perez only managed two, while the Dutchman also took a further 12 pole positions at the wheel of the RB19.

Before joining Red Bull, Verstappen was at sister team Toro Rosso for a season and a half under the wing of Tost.

When asked if he thinks any driver could challenge Verstappen in the same car, the former Team Principal had his doubts.

“If Max continues to have a good car, he will win many more races and titles,” Tost told F1 Insider.

“He’s still not at his limit and will get even better. No driver who is or will be his teammate will ever progress beyond the role of number two driver.”

Tost believes Verstappen managed to exhibit natural talent the first time he got into the car, which helped him get up to speed while still a teenager.

"Not a champion, but a natural talent. It's about the skills of a pilot and his relationship to speed. With Michael, you never had the feeling that he was overwhelmed even on his first lap in a Formula 1 car.

"It was the same with his brother Ralf and with Max Verstappen. When he drove a Formula 1 car for the first time in Suzuka at the age of 17, he got along immediately, despite the much higher speed. He also had no problems with braking, despite the enormous centrifugal forces of up to 6g."