Verstappen yet to hit his peak despite four titles, says former F1 team boss Szafnauer

Max Verstappen has not yet reached his peak performance despite winning four Formula 1 world championships, according to former team principal Otmar Szafnauer. Speaking on the High Performance Racing podcast alongside host Jake Humphrey and ex-Ferrari race engineer Rob Smedley, Szafnauer offered a striking assessment of the Red Bull driver’s trajectory.

When the panel was asked to name the greatest drivers they had worked with and competed against, Szafnauer cited Sebastian Vettel as the best he had worked alongside, while reserving his fiercest rivals category for Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton. Pressed on why Verstappen did not feature, his answer was unambiguous.

“Well, I don’t think Max is at his peak yet,” Szafnauer said. “I think he’s going to get better.”

The assessment arrives at a complicated moment in Verstappen’s career. The 28-year-old currently sits sixth in the drivers’ standings with 109 points, trailing championship leader Kimi Antonelli by 110 points. Speculation over his future has circulated in recent months, with rumours linking him to both Mercedes and McLaren, but Verstappen has publicly reaffirmed his loyalty to Red Bull.

That commitment was formalised through a contract extension keeping him at the Milton Keynes outfit until the end of 2030. In a Q&A session following the announcement, Verstappen spoke warmly about the team and outlined his ambitions for the years ahead.

“It’s like a second family for me,” Verstappen said. “And of course, I came into this team hoping for, you know, being able to win races — and we have won four titles together. Plus, of course, working again towards that goal. It’s something that is very exciting. That’s why I feel at home here.”

He added: “I’m just very happy with the extension. Hopefully, we can just keep working together and try to get back to the top.”

Szafnauer’s verdict will carry weight given his extensive experience in the paddock, having led teams including BAR, Honda, Force India, Racing Point, and Alpine across a career spanning more than two decades. His view that Verstappen — already one of the most decorated drivers in the sport’s history — still has more to give will do little to dampen debate about where the Dutchman ultimately ranks among Formula 1’s all-time greats.