Verstappen hailed by Formula E champion for support amid 'trash talk'

Ex-Formula 1 driver and two-time Formula E champion Jean-Eric Vergne has reacted to Max Verstappen's voice of support for the all-electric series.

Following the Japanese Grand Prix, Verstappen was asked for his opinion of Formula E, which is currently in its 10th season.

The Red Bull driver highlighted that there are “quite a lot of good drivers in there”, adding that “you might have raced them in the past or you've seen them around, so the competition is very high”.

Vergne, who competed in three F1 seasons before moving to Formula E, highlighted that Verstappen is highly qualified to provide an accurate opinion.

“Some of the drivers don’t even know what they’re talking about, some of them just talk trash about Formula E,” Vergne told AutoMoto.

“Max actually watches all of the races he can and is friends with many of the Formula E drivers. It’s nice to see that comment from Max.

“With all of the kind of racing he watches, either in F1, I know he watches everything, and then all of the racing he does in the simulator, I think he has a pretty good understanding of what we’re going through with those cars.”

Vergne details 'more homework' than F1, WEC

Vergne added that the work to understand the machinery in Formula E is greater than that in F1 or the World Endurance Championship.

“I don’t know if we’re the most technical [series] but it sure that I have a lot more homework to do in Formula E than WEC or F1,” he said.

“There are a lot more parameters that a driver needs to understand if they want to win a race - not only about tyre management or being fast, there are a lot of other things going on that you need to really master.

“For a new driver coming in, it is a lot like going back to school because there’s a lot of homework. There are so many things to learn and to understand.”