Ross Brawn has highlighted Max Verstappen’s change in mindset amid the 2021 season – brought on by the fact that he is in a Championship-winning RB16B this year.
The Formula One managing director said Verstappen’s outlook on track had to change to ensure that at any moment, whether a mistake is made by his closest rival or a safety car is summoned mid-race, he is ready to attack.
Brawn predicts the epic battle between Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen is set to continue with the Championship Title up in the air at this point.
Lewis remains at the top of the Drivers’ Standings, however, just eight points shy of the lead at the moment is the young Dutchman.
“It’s clear that Max Verstappen is approaching this championship in a different way because he finally has a title-winning car. His mindset has changed and he’s got an eye on the whole championship”, Ross Brawn said.
“And it had to change because when you’re a title contender, the focus has to be on consolidating when you’re not the fastest and when opportunities such as a mechanical issue for a rival or a Safety Car present themselves, you must be in a position to strike.
“If Lewis had had an issue or Mercedes made a mistake in Portugal, Max was in a position to react, so while it was frustrating for him today, he can see Red Bull are responding and he accepts that there will be an ebb and flow to this championship.
“Barcelona will potentially be different in terms of conditions and the type of track. And Monaco will be quite the event between the two, too, as they are both strong right there.
“We’ve had three races on three different tracks and on each, there has been a proper fight between Max and Lewis, which bodes very well for a fascinating title fight this year.”
