F1 legend reveals major advantage for Verstappen over his competitors

17:15, 09 Jun

byNorberto Mujica

McLaren dominates the Formula 1 season of 2025, but has often felt the hot breath of Max Verstappen on its neck. According to legendary car designer Peter Wright, the Dutchman has one major advantage that still allows him to compete in the title race.

Former F1 Williams staff member Peter Windsor spoke to Wright on his Youtube Channel and both men criticised heavily the measures introduced by the FIA for the Grand Prix weekend in Spain.

The Australian presenter asked the former Lotus engineer if there was something that could be changed in the regulations to reel in McLaren's dominant form.

“Well, I don't think they can change the rules any more without unanimous agreement and I don't think they'd get that. And it's not a safety issue. In fact it makes the cars safer by changing the characteristics to be more stable at high speed.”

Praise for Max Verstappen's driving style in the Spanish GP

Wright continued: “There was a a wonderful shot of Verstappen being unstable at high speeds in the last few laps you see he can cope with instability a lot of drivers can't I I've with Lotus there were drivers who said I don't I can't cope with highspeed oversteer don't let me have a high-speed over steer.”

For the British engineer and former FIA man, Verstappen's talent allows Red Bull to set up the car more aggresively so more performance can be extracted from it, a skill not all drivers have.

Zak Brown at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in the Lotus 79 with which Mario Andretti became world champion in 1978.

Wright's opinion being one of the pioneers who helped develop the ground effect concept in F1 whilst at Lotus, is that McLaren are stronger than Red Bull in one fundamental area.

And regardless of what Verstappen and Red Bull try to do with the setup, the McLaren will still have the upper-hand.

"It may be the overall aerodynamics of the McLaren are better than the Red Bull. Lift drag ratio so that they have a little bit more overall downforce and then they can afford to come back with the center of pressure and end up with less over steer and maybe less drag.”