Former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher has claimed that Max Verstappen could win the Drivers’ Championship in this year’s current Racing Bulls car.
The reigning World Champion is all but certain to relinquish his title, which he has held since taking his first in 2021.
This year has seen the defence of his crown suffer by the often unpredictable Red Bull RB21, which has been unable to consistently challenge the all-conquering McLaren.
By contrast, the team’s junior outfit’s machine – the VCARB 02 – has been a largely congruent car across most of the tracks raced on so far this year.
So much so, that rookie driver Isack Hadjar has managed a string of points finishes, and a podium, leaving him in the top 10 of the Drivers’ standings, all in his rookie season.
Schumacher, speaking on the Backstage Boxengasse podcast, believes that Verstappen could have mounted a better title challenge in that instead.
“I’d almost go as far as saying Max could theoretically fight for the championship with that car,” the German Sky Sport pundit said.
“They’ve got data. The data is based on all of the factual information. So, they will know how the two cars compare from all that information.
“They’ll know how the two cars are performing using all of that data. The only thing they don’t have is Max’s input in terms of whether he would be half a second quicker in the RB, or maybe the car doesn’t suit him.”
Verstappen Racing Bulls test pointless, claims another ex-F1 driver
It has been speculated and theorised that Verstappen and Racing Bulls could mutually benefit from a test in the VCARB 02.
The Faenza-based squad has been known for always producing a pliable and passive car, something that former driver Alex Albon explained earlier in the season.
Such an idea has been ruled out, a sensible choice given the FIA’s apparent work into tightening rules on ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams colluding.
And another ex-F1 driver in the form of David Coulthard believes it would be a pointless exercise, contradicting Schumacher’s take.
“They’ve got data. The data is based on all of the factual information,” he told a More Than Equal Event over the Dutch Grand Prix weekend.
“So, they will know how the two cars compare from all that information.
“It would only take Max two laps to get the maximum out of any of those cars.
“I think he would perform like he does in any car. Blindingly fast and very difficult for his team-mate to beat him.”
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