F1 Race Director Credits Max Verstappen for ‘Reviving the Sport’

F1 Race Director Claire Dubbelman asserted that Max Verstappen transformed the pinnacle of motorsport in the past decade.

F1 Race Director Credits Max Verstappen for ‘Reviving the Sport’

Max Verstappen (via Red Bull)

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Max Verstappen is a talent of a generation. Ever since the Dutchman made his debut in 2015, he has proven himself as one of the all-time greats. Verstappen remains in a league of his own, outdriving the Red Bull car this season. Now, F1 Race Director Claire Dubbelman has asserted that the Red Bull star helped increase the sport’s popularity.

In the 2010s, Formula 1 was witnessing a decline commercially. The pinnacle of motorsport was not seeing a rise in fan-following, rather it was essentially losing viewers. However, in the past decade, things have changed dramatically. While a lot can be credited to efforts from Liberty Media to drive the sport’s growth, particularly in the US, Max Verstappen‘s role cannot be ignored.

The Dutch driver took the racing world by storm when he took his first win for Red Bull in 2016. He has never looked back since. Max Verstappen has won four back-to-back titles and shattered several records, as he drove in a league of his own. The 27-year-old enjoys a massive fanbase called the ‘Orange Army.’

Claire Dubbelman claimed that F1 as a sport had transformed in the past few years. She recalled that when she lived in the Netherlands and Germany a decade ago, the racing landscape looked rather grim. There was a lack of influx of talent especially in junior series. However, once Max Verstappen joined F1, it revived motorsport as a whole.

The sport has seen such a transformation in recent years. I’ve lived and worked in five different countries. The last time I lived in the Netherlands was around 2015-2016. I left to Germany at the time. I became a team manager of a big endurance team. And when I left the Netherlands around that time, motorsport was in a very difficult place.It was national championships where we’re really struggling for competitors and all that. And then when Max (Verstappen) entered Formula 1, it’s been the revival of the sport in the country.

Claire Dubbelman said on the Chequered Flag podcast

Max Verstappen applauds Red Bull’s new team boss after Christian Horner axe

Red Bull is going through a period of transition in Formula 1. Milton Keynes sacked long-serving Team Principal Christian Horner a few weeks ago amid rumors of escalating tensions within the team. Laurent Mekies from Racing Bulls was brought in to replace Horner. Now, Max Verstappen has given his approval to his new team boss.

Laurent Mekies
Laurent Mekies (via Motorsport.com)

The reigning world champion admitted that while it was still early, he was happy with Mekies’ ways of functioning. Max Verstappen claimed that the new Red Bull team boss was extremely motivated and did not hesitate from asking the right questions to the drivers as well as the team. Verstappen asserted that the change in leadership will bear fruit for the Austrian team in the next couple of years.

Yeah, absolutely – that’s always the case. Of course, it’s still very early days, but I do like how Laurent is working. Very motivated, constantly asking the right questions to me, but also to the team. It’s nice to see. This year it’s very difficult to see any kind of benefit from that, but I hope in the coming year, two years, that we can really see his touch to the team. I’m very excited for that.

Max Verstappen said, as quoted by MotorsportWeek

Certainly, Max Verstappen wants Red Bull to succeed. After all, the four-time world champion hopes to see the rest of his career at Milton Keynes, after refuting all rumors of wanting to join Mercedes. Though, his tenure at the team will depend on the Austrian giant’s position in the pecking order next season. Verstappen will not shy away from taking better opportunities if the need arises.

Read More: Ralf Schumacher Makes Bold Claim on Christian Horner’s Next F1 Role After Brutal Red Bull Axe