Verstappen Laat Geen Kruimel Liggen Op Jacht Naar F1-Titel | F1-Interview

Behind me is Circuit Zandvoort. Of course, at the beginning of the summer, the Dutch Grand Prix's battleground. Only two editions. But that's not the reason why we're here. This is the big opening of the VIA Pleyaar. All the analysts and commentators are here. We've spoken to them and they're going to take a look at the entire Formula 1 season. And of course the Australian Grand Prix. So don't forget to subscribe to this channel. And then we'll go straight to the analysts. Yes, Indy. I can also say a new face for the Racing News fans. And maybe even for the Formula 1 fans. But anyway, a short introduction in terms of racing, sport and Formula 3. In any case, no one has to explain the question about you, right? No, well, if you're really a Formula 1 fan, then I'm not a familiar face. That's not at all strange. I started in the Karts, made my way through in Formula 3. That's where I raced against Max Verstappen during the Masters. Fastest race lap? Fastest race lap, I can just say that. I think it's on your CV, right? Yes, I just make use of it. What does it matter? I have it in black and white on the result. Then I made my way through in the GT world. So actually a roof over my head. Eventually I was active a lot in Germany in the GT Masters. There I was also third in the championship. Then I raced a lot in America for an American team, Winward Racing. And eventually I won two beautiful victories in Daytona. We won in 2021 and in 2024. This year we were close again, but unfortunately we had some bad luck at the end of the race. And we were fourth. And also the well-known race in Endurance is the 12 hours of Sebring. I also won that last year. And last year we became champion in the IMSA championship. So that's a bit of a nod to who I am as an outboard racer. And I'm a bit new on TV too. Last year I started at the other side, at SIGO. And now at FIA Play, very happy with it. What kind of crazy season are we going to get? With probably four teams that can fight for titles and victories. Yes, of course, that has to do with the regulations, which are quite strict. You notice that many teams have looked at everyone. Philosophies, photos that have come. Keep going. Thanks to Perez, of course, who made sure that everyone could get a step closer. But if I look and analyze what happened last week with the test days. I still see that McLaren was pretty fast. Actually a bit too impressive. Red Bull was also there, but it was difficult to estimate. But I do see McLaren and then the fight between Red Bull and Mercedes and then Ferrari. Where many analysts and maybe ex-drivers focus on the development of the cars. And what has become better? Are you also really hammering on the fact that the people who have left teams and go to other teams. Because according to you, they may have an even greater influence. Also perhaps with an eye on 26. Yes, that is absolutely the key factor. You just notice at this moment that many people are being hijacked. Are being bought away by other teams. And I think the best set was from Zac Brown at Rob Marshall. Nobody thought about that. And yes, he just let Christian Horner slip through his hands. And you see that there is just a second Red Bull on the circuit. Only then with a different mechanical grip than the Red Bull itself. And of course that works great. And now comes the big question of course. How is the further development going to be? That further development is from, yes, does Pierre Varcher keep his team? And how is the further development going to be with Rob Marshall on the McLaren side? How is Adrian Nieuwier going to do with Aston Martin? I was actually surprised about the Aston Martin. Because I still saw a pushrod system. Where you would actually think that it is out of date. And that you have to go to a pullrod system. Aerodynamically. Yes, and then you see, for example, Ferrari. Who is just the only team that has just thrown everything over hope. To help the seven-time world champion to his eighth world title. Is that going to be a nice fairy tale? Or shorter than expected? Or will it be a nightmare for both? Well, I think it's going to be very difficult. Because they have that background. But they have clearly seen that of course with that pullrod system. That they were exhausted to find more downforce. In that new Ferrari. So they changed to a pullrod system. So your colleague, by the way. Tom Coronel, who screams so loud. He just comes to my ear. It's unbelievable, isn't it? You can still put it on the roof and you can still hear it. We are an axle, you can still hear it. But no, you just notice that Ferrari has done a lot. They have placed the seat position of Hamilton more to the back. They went to the pullrod system. And don't forget. A season can run very strange. We saw in the beginning of the season last year. Red Bull on a mighty. At the end of the season, McLaren was the better car. So it can turn around at once. So let's hope that happens. I personally hope that Lewis Hamilton gets a victory. At Ferrari. That would of course be fantastic. The battle between McLaren versus the rest. I think we'll take a look at that. Until Red Bull gets things in order. If they get it in order. The frustration with Max if it doesn't go the way he hopes it will. He has become very careful after the Bahrain test. We also take that caution with us. So you will see things like that again. And he will get what's in it. And it's a Red Bull to give him a car. I think he can fight with it against McLaren, Mercedes and Ferrari. And so far we have seen. It seems easier than last year. But easier is not good enough yet. To win a title next to him. That's not what it looks like so far. No, but that's based on one test week. In very cold conditions. But yes, we know that Max always maximizes. And I expect that if you get a small chance. That he just takes it home with him. Well, let me put it this way. He doesn't have to. He wants to. And the pressure of having to is a different kind of pressure. And he will not give up. Landon Norris and McLaren really have to prove to me that they can do that. People always have to go back to 2021. There we saw a fight between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. And Max is not in a better car either. And you can see that he has won the world championship on behalf of himself. And I hope that we will get a season like that again. So it's not always about the best car. But you just see that Red Bull as an engineer. That they have the best team there. If you look at the development and the layout. Then I'm really just talking about the layout. Not the development in terms of aerodynamics. But from a Friday to a Saturday. How big those steps are that they can make. Comparable to other teams. That's actually incredible. And if you look at McLaren, for example. How they actually threw it away at the end of the season. If Max had been in that car, he would have had eight victories. So Norris is not constant either. And you have seen, on the consistency of Max. He scored so many points last year. That he actually became world champion with two fingers in his nose. Will that be the word for 2025? Consistency, the consistency of the driver. As the key to a championship. Yes, but that was every year. That's nothing new. Your CV is double printed. About with everything on it. Maybe the Formula 1 driver of 2024 doesn't know you very well yet. But the Formula 1 driver of 2025 will know you. Because you just mentioned it yourself. You are the Christmas bonus for the FIA Play team. Mainly you are going to do nice things in the show of Tom Coronel and Rob Kampuis. What will be your share in that? Will you be the analyst we know. But then the young, fresh look. Or are we going to blow a different wind? Just the fresh look. I always try to explain it as easily as possible to the Formula 1 viewer. I think that the world of Formula 1 is difficult enough to understand. And I try to make that translation for the viewer. In addition, we have just noticed that Rob and Tom can chat nicely. Not. Yes? And I hope that I can get in between. And that I can make sure that the men don't stay in the story too long. And that we can put on a very nice show. Grand Prix Australia. Which three drivers are on the podium. As many Dutch people have made the effort to wake up. To watch the race 5 for 5. Ossar Piastri on 1. Yes, certainly. Then it will be the first Australian who is on the podium in Australia. I really hope so. It seems great to me if he can do that. After that I will ... I'm going for that difficult Ferrari. She will understand it anyway. I think Charles Leclerc will be the first to do that. P2. Yes, P2. And on a P3 I put Lewis Hamilton. I don't put Max on the podium at all. He gets an exploding engine again. He gets an exploding engine, an exploding tire. Everything. Everything comes to an end. Yes, but they had some problems. So that can certainly happen. But I don't believe that they will be on the podium yet. Indy, thank you. We'll see. Yes, thank you. The last winner of the Grand Prix Australia next week. I don't know if you're watching this, but I still want to ask you about the men. Ferrari could have a chance. We have seen that Sainz was very strong. It really has to do with the setup. It is a bit of a street circuit. Not really a race circuit. The results that will come there will not be decisive for the rest of the season. So I'm curious. I mean, everyone has a chance. McLaren, Ferrari, Red Bull, Mercedes. Mercedes also did very well in the test days. Great. Christian, thank you. We'll see. You're welcome.