Criticized for his direct communication during a difficult period with Red Bull, Max Verstappen is defended by Jean Alesi, who believes the Dutchman is misunderstood.
Read more F1 2026: decisions expected for April 20
Max Verstappen’s comments on Red Bull’s difficulties have recently drawn criticism, with some seeing it as a form of frustration directed at his team.
Jean Alesi rejects this interpretation and defends an attitude he considers normal for a top-level driver.
“Absolutely. He is pushing his team. That doesn’t mean you are against your team. As a driver, you obviously push your team. He can’t go to a press conference and say: ‘my team is fantastic, my car is fantastic, everything is perfect’.”
“He has to say: the engine needs to be like this, the aerodynamics are going in this direction, we need to change course. It’s not a criticism, it’s a message to improve.”
In this context, Alesi believes that Verstappen is simply doing his job, while the responsibility for improving the situation now lies with the team.
“The most he can do now is stay calm and let the engineers bring improvements. It’s the only thing he can do.”
A difficult period that penalizes the fastest
The Frenchman also places these tensions in a broader technical context: that of a complicated start to the regulatory era for Red Bull and for Verstappen himself.
“Max is currently really struggling. Really very difficult. We see the system they have now with the car, the way they use the throttle: they have less electrical power.”
According to him, these characteristics could even disadvantage the best-performing drivers.
Read more Leo Fornaroli continues his learning in F1
“Is this the time when the fastest drivers have more problems than others? Maybe. Because you see in qualifying in Japan that Max and Charles Leclerc were faster in every corner, but at the end of the lap they were still slower.”
From an aggressive driver to a complete driver
Beyond the current situation, Alesi insists on Verstappen’s evolution, whom he considers today to be a much more accomplished driver than at his debut.
“I love him. You know why? Because he had a period where… The aggressiveness with which he fought against Lewis Hamilton in that rivalry. It felt like if he had Lewis in front of him, he wanted to jump on him.”
“Now, he has become a real fighter. He makes overtakes, but he no longer pushes his opponent off the track.”
“Max is the man of incredible overtakes. Before, it was difficult. I didn’t like it… The aggressiveness was a bit too strong, but now he is the most incredible driver on track. I love watching him. I love seeing his racing intelligence.”
The best of his generation
Finally, Alesi places Verstappen at the top of the current hierarchy, ahead of his direct rivals, including Charles Leclerc.
“He is number one, but in all of history? No, because you can’t compare him to Ayrton Senna, nor to Juan Manuel Fangio, nor to Tazio Nuvolari… The machines, the risks, everything was different.”
“But in this new generation of drivers, let’s say those after 2000, he is for me the best.”
Read more Alpine will work on improving its weaknesses because the potential of the A526 is very real