I start again from where I stopped… or almost. Perhaps this would be the phrase to best describe Max Verstappen and his start to the season. A formidable driver, who also this season is proving to have that something more than the others, which perhaps only Leclerc can try to tackle.
A bombshell start... halfway through
Analyzing the first two races of the season, one immediately has to say: Verstappen, you are a lot of stuff. Just think about it: in Bahrain, the Dutch driver has always been attached to Charles Leclerc's F1-75. Second position was firmly his, if it hadn't been for the problem with reliability. An important issue to address and at the same time not to be underestimated. However, the problems, linked to the insufficient petrol loaded on the RB18, should be resolved, at least according to the number one on the grid. From the Shakir track we fly instead to Saudi Arabia, where Verstappen collected his first points of the season. How many? 25. Yes, the maximum. A real pleasure for those who had it at FantaF1 (especially if he was the captain), in which he collected 33, like his old number.
The maturity reached
In Jeddah we had the opportunity to see all the perfection of Max Verstappen: evil and intelligent at the same time. He knows when to attack and above all never leaves anything to chance. Furthermore, the car goes and proves to be one of the favorites for each Grand Prix together with Ferrari (obviously waiting to find out the results of the Mercedes updates).
The experience that increases
But there is another aspect that should not be underestimated. Verstappen has been called back many times for his poor management of coldness. In some circumstances he has always taken risks, putting at risk the safety of him but also of the pilot with whom he was dueling. However, things have changed quite a bit now. Verstappen is in fact world champion today. He won a title last season following a fantastic year and a fight with Lewis Hamilton that kept everyone in suspense until the last corner in Abu Dhabi. Many hope that with Leclerc the same situation can be repeated this year, without ever reaching those various contacts that would cost FantaF1 a nice penalty.
The team strategy
One last point on which to focus, and fully understand why having Verstappen in the team is always a guarantee, is the management and strategies of his team. Red Bull was immediately clear (not that there was any need): Verstappen is the team's top driver. So, it won't be a huge problem for the Milton Keynes team to sacrifice Perez's race, if it serves to help Verstappen get as many points as possible. As many points as possible than in the race, in addition to success or the podium, a Fantamanager can also get with many overtakings, which Verstappen never lacks.
You cost how much you cost
So: is it really worth having Max Verstappen in your stable? A question that, at the end of this article, becomes quite rhetorical: absolutely yes. Regardless of the price which in the end can also be considered well balanced, but having the Dutchman in the team can be worth gold because Verstappen is always, or rather almost always, synonymous with a bonus.
