Ex-F1 Driver Advises Max Verstappen to Push Limits at Canadian GP Despite Race Ban Risk

Former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer claimed that Max Verstappen will not change his risky racing style despite the Spanish GP fallout.

Ex-F1 Driver Advises Max Verstappen to Push Limits at Canadian GP Despite Race Ban Risk

Christian Horner and Max Verstappen (via F1)

Max Verstappen is a hard racer. The Dutch driver leaves no stone unturned when he is up against the competition. More often than not, this allows the Red Bull star to annihilate the competition. However, on some occasions, like this year’s Spanish GP, things turn into a nightmare. Now former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer has asserted that Verstappen will not change his style despite the latest fiasco.

During the Spanish GP, Max Verstappen found himself in a bad position following a late Safety Car. The reigning world champion was on a set of hard tires, giving him virtually no grip compared to his rivals. Verstappen ran wide while battling against George Russell. When Red Bull instructed him to give the position back, the Dutchman ended up colliding with the Mercedes.

The four-time world champion was handed a ten-second time penalty which dropped him down to tenth place. Moreover, three penalty points were added to his super license, bringing him one point away from a race ban. While Red Bull has warned Verstappen to not make any rash decisions that could lead to a race ban, Palmer remains adamant that the 27-year-old will not change how he races.

Jolyon Palmer made it clear that Max Verstappen only knows one way race. The reigning world champion pushes himself to the limit and is ready to risk everything on the race track. This gives him the edge over his rivals on certain occasions and Palmer insisted that this is unlikely to change. Though, the ex-Renault driver made it clear that the incident in Barcelona was not the same. He blamed Verstappen’s anger for misjudging the move.

I still don’t think he’s going to change his approach. I still think he has one way of racing, and it is to throw everything at it and see what sticks. [He] risks more than the others, probably, and I don’t see it changing. The Barcelona one is obviously, it’s a different scenario, that’s not racing. He’s had red mist, hasn’t he? He’s lost his cool rather than misjudged a racing move.

Jolyon Palmer said on F1 Nation podcast

Max Verstappen to still ‘push to the limit’

The Spanish GP was one of the most controversial races in Max Verstappen’s career. The four-time world champion faced immense backlash from the entire paddock, with many demanding him to be disqualified. However, Verstappen has so far denied all claims of having intentionally crashed into George Russell.

Max Verstappen (via Red Bull)
Max Verstappen (via Red Bull)

Jolyon Palmer reckoned that the Red Bull star will at least not do something similar to his clash with Russell anytime soon. Yet, the Briton was convinced that Verstappen will still race the same way, when it comes to going round the outside or making late lunges. Palmer was adamant that the four-time world champion will continue to push to the limit at every race.

But in terms of actually what he’s going to do on the track, I don’t think he’ll do that again. But I think I see him racing the same way, still firing in lunges, still trying to hang on around the outside if he possibly can. And will claim foul, will push, he’ll push the limits in every way.

Jolyon Palmer added

Certainly, Max Verstappen needs to introspect himself after his incident in Spain. The four-time world champion cannot afford any such incident again, which could put him at risk of a race ban. The 27-year-old’s title hopes will go down the drain if he faces another controversy like this in the coming races. Now, it’s time for Verstappen to avoid such mistakes and push himself to the fullest.

Read More: Racing Icon Adds Fuel to Fire over Lewis Hamilton Retirement Rumors