He talked a massive game during the opening races, but he’s failed to get into Q3 at half the races so far. It’s incredible how Verstappen just stomps everyone thrown into the other car, young or experienced, and in every area. I honestly don’t think Checo “the tyre whisperer” Perez is better than Ver at tyre-saving, nor strategy, nor raw pace…
Is there anyone who RB would feasibly replace Per with? Maybe Norris? I’m not a huge fan personally, but I know he’s got plenty of cachet at the moment.
Hmm i think that Verstappen doesn’t want it to be 1 and 2 for prestige reasons: if your second driver is second in the championship it means that it was the car, not the driver.
Hence why last year he actively sabotaged Perez.
I feel like you vastly overestimate how much he cares what people think of him
(And we all know why he really did that of course, there isn’t much to speculate about)