'Verstappen's track record at Red Bull Racing is stunning'

With the world title being fought over right up to the final metres of the last race in 2021, Red Bull was unable to focus on the 2022 car until later than desired. At the opening race of 2022, it was immediately clear that Adrian Newey had pulled a very fast car out of the hat, but it still suffered from a number of problems.

For instance, the RB18 was far too heavy and also needed work on the balance, which was very difficult to get right. As the season progressed, however, the team turned the deficit into a lead and Verstappen slowly but surely gained the upper hand in the title battle with Charles Leclerc.

'Verstappen is technically extremely gifted'

The now two-time world champion played a key role in making the car more agile, but his adaptability also proved crucial. "Max is technically extremely gifted. He did a lot of work as a youngster, often guided by his father. And you can see the legacy of that," said Red Bull chief engineer Paul Monaghan, according to The Race.

"He knows what he’s talking about within the car. And he knows what he wants," continued the 55-year-old Briton. As a result, the engineers were able to deliver a car that was nicely balanced for Verstappen, well-controlled and also handled the tyres well enough.

Monaghan thinks it is incredible what Verstappen has already managed since he joined the team at a young age, especially in the last few years leading to two world titles in a row. "If you look at his record over the past seasons he’s been with us, it’s stunning," Monaghan said.