Former Formula 1 team principal Otmar Szafnauer believes Max Verstappen is still improving and has yet to reach his peak performance, despite already winning four F1 championships.
Speaking on the High Performance Racing podcast with Jake Humphrey and Rob Smedley, Szafnauer was asked to name the greatest drivers he had worked with and competed against. He named Sebastian Vettel as the best he had worked with, and Michael Schumacher or Lewis Hamilton as the toughest rivals. When asked why Verstappen wasn't in that list, he said, "I don't think Max is at his peak yet. I think he's going to get better."
The comments come amid a challenging 2026 season for Verstappen, who currently sits sixth in the drivers' standings with 109 points, 110 behind leader Kimi Antonelli. Despite speculation linking him to Mercedes or McLaren, the Dutchman has reaffirmed his commitment to Red Bull Racing by signing a contract extension through 2030.
Verstappen described the Milton Keynes-based team as "like a second family" and expressed his desire to continue winning races and championships with them. "I'm just very happy with the extension. Hopefully, we can keep working together and get back to the top," he said.
Szafnauer, who has led teams like Force India and Alpine, sees untapped potential in Verstappen. He believes the 28-year-old's experience and maturity will make him even more formidable. "He's still young and already so competitive. That's a scary combination for his rivals," Szafnauer added.
With a long-term contract and burning ambition, Verstappen has every tool to keep fighting for titles. The question remains whether Red Bull can provide him a competitive car to return to winning ways. This season will be a true test for both parties.
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