Max Verstappen has opened up on the particular qualities that he values in a Formula 1 team-mate.
The four-time World Champion says he does not need his teammate to be a close friend off the track.
But he wants someone he can work with in the paddock, has a “good understanding” with, and who shares information openly to help the team progress.
“Good in also developing the car with the team. Good understanding between the drivers,” he explained to Viaplay.
“Friendly, funny, open-minded, not hiding things throughout the weekend between the two drivers.
“So, yeah, in general, just trying to push the team forward. I think that’s the most important.
“If you are good friends off track, that’s a nice bonus but not necessarily needed, as long as you are very professional on track and it benefits the team.”
Being Verstappen’s team-mate is no easy task.
He is widely regarded as one of F1’s best drivers, and George Russell has described him as the sport’s “gold standard”. Many drivers have struggled to match him at Red Bull.
Pierre Gasly lasted just half of the 2019 season, while Alex Albon stayed until the end of 2020.
Then Sergio Perez won five races in four seasons, but he suffered a dip in form in 2024, leaving the team.
Liam Lawson had two races before returning to Red Bull’s junior team. Yuki Tsunoda also struggled in 2025 and will become Red Bull’s test and reserve driver in 2026.
Next in line for the challenging Red Bull seat is Isack Hadjar. The promotion comes after a strong rookie year with the team’s junior squad, Racing Bulls.
Hadjar is preparing for a tough start. He expects early struggles against Verstappen.
“If anything, the goal is to accept that I’m going to be slower the first month,” Hadjar said in Abu Dhabi.
“I think that, if you go into that mindset, you accept already that it’s going to be very tough… looking at the data and seeing things you can’t achieve yet.
“It’s going to be very frustrating. But if you know, then you’re more prepared.”
A potential advantage for Hadjar is the new chassis and engine regulations coming in 2026, which will act as a reset for the entire grid.
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