Verstappen would be 'less aggressive' in Mercedes
Max Verstappen says he would drive less aggressively at the wheel of a Mercedes.
Most pundits agree that the Dutchman was notably more mature in 2019 compared to his early days in Formula 1 as a teenager.
But six time world champion Lewis Hamilton has said that Verstappen, 22, is still too aggressive on occasion.
"That may have something to do with the generation, but I don't think we drive very differently to how he did in his first five years," the Red Bull driver told Dutch publication Formule 1.
As for whether he has tempered his aggression compared to his memorable early years, Verstappen added: "No, I just think that with more experience in Formula 1 you can judge better what can and cannot be done."
And Verstappen thinks Hamilton's Mercedes car is also a factor.
"Whatever it is, he is in a car that is world champion material," he said.
"We sometimes have the chance to fight with him but then we have to be a little harder, because otherwise you don't have a chance.
"If it was the other way around and we were in such a car, we would sometimes be less aggressive.
"Because in such a position you know you just have to get points for the championship, so sometimes it is better to let the other guy win the race and you finish second," said Verstappen.
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Take away VER's aggression and you lose much of his fan appeal. Also, it is growing a bit tiresome listening to him blame his lack of success on MB being a superior car. Some of the truly great drivers have taken a second tier cars to the championship.
Max's main problems are that he never accepts responsibility for his failures - even if it is blatantly obvious that he has caused the issue / incident. Also, he is unable to get the best out of the equipment at his disposal, as great drivers with inferior equipment always manage to do - best examples being Ayrton Senna, Juan Fangio, Michael Schumacher and Jim Clarke, to name but a few.
Max needs to get his ability to match the words that come out of his mouth! Forget the rhetoric and lame excuses and concentrate on achieving the task at hand!
Forget the greats.....it appears that he might have trouble in 2020 with the other young guys. LEC, NOR and maybe even his teammate, ALB, seem poised to give it a go. The 2020 results just might severely curtail VER's value to other teams. It's been five years and he is about to run out of excuses, destined to be just another excellent racing driver. We shall see.
but that's all VERS does ie blame everyone and everything else apart from looking at himself. ALB will give him a closer run for the number 1 spot at RB in 2020, Mercedes have RUS in the wings for 2021 ..maybe, we will wait and see... like you said VERS has had 5yrs now and just the odd race win... to me he is over rated...good yes but not a world champ, LEC, RUS and NOR will beat him to it......
please never the Dutchman in a Mercedes if so I will never purchase another Mercedes I now own 2 and nikki lauder would not approve
So who will replace Hamilton if not Max? And I doubt that you're car purchasing habits will bother the Three Pointed Star. They need a winning driver - IF they don't pull out of F1 in 2021.