OCTOBER 27, 2016

Red Bull atmosphere will not sour says Verstappen

Max Verstappen is sure the quality of his current relationship with Red Bull teammate Daniel Ricciardo will last.

Speaking with Germany's Sport Bild newspaper, F1 sensation Verstappen admitted the current title battle between Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg will remain "exciting" until the end.

A completely different atmosphere exists at the next best team, where Verstappen and Australian Ricciardo remain friends.

But what if they're fighting for the title next year or beyond? Will their relationship also turn sour?

"That will not happen with us, I'm sure," Verstappen, 19, answered.

"It's about trust. As we proved in Malaysia, we can fight just centimetres apart around each corner but never cross the line. That is not going to change," he insisted.

However, Verstappen's aggressive driving has triggered what the paddock is now calling the 'Verstappen rule', where drivers cannot move in the braking zone.

But the young Dutchman insisted: "I will not change my driving style."

That sort of flair and aggression has been compared with Senna or Schumacher.

Verstappen said: "I may have a little bit of Schumacher, but I see my nature as more like Senna or Lewis. But I hope I have the best features of all three."

And he thinks he is still getting better.

"I still have a lot of potential," said Max. "Every race, every year, I will get better."

(GMM)