Alex Albon once again throwing some huge compliments Max’s way❤️️
“I would say he is the most gifted driver I have ever driven alongside. It’s difficult to compare your teammates, but he drives like he talks; there’s no room for politics. He is very straightforward and very relaxed. People don’t really know that side of him, but he’s so relaxed that I almost think, ‘I wish I was that relaxed’.” Albon recalls that just before a qualifying session, Verstappen could be busy playing computer games like FIFA and opened so-called digital 'FIFA packs’ just before the session.
Albon continues his story in which he shares his unique perspective on the reigning world champion’s racing skills. Albon: “It’s also the way he handles the car. He is very precise. What he wants in a car is very different from what most drivers want. He wants a car that is so sharp in the corner; it’s unbelievable.” According to Albon, Verstappen is always playing with the car. And although the Dutchman’s steering always looks very smooth, Albon knows better: “It’s not. I can tell you that that car is extremely sharp.”
The Williams driver concludes, “I’ve always been known as a driver who likes a lot of front gripping, to control the car precisely. And then this guy comes in. He makes it look like I’m driving a bus.”
“I always say you couldn’t do this job if you weren’t friends because you spend that much time together, you travel together, you in hotels together so you have to get on with the person you work with. So yeah he’s a good guy, really down to earth guy, likes being at home, likes spending time with family and friends. We have nice relationships in that we can go for a dinner, we can chat about the football, sit down and watch the football, play a bit of FIFA. It took me three years to beat him but I’ve done it now.”
“I flew out after the season finale in Abu Dhabi to Barcelona in 2019, met Max and his family at the circuit where they were test driving some cars and yeah we just got on from there, spent half a day with him we chatted about a few things, talked about becoming world champion.”
“Does he judge your driving?”
“Yeah maybe after I’ve gone the wrong way a few times”😭
“I turned up to testing in Barcelona 2020 they handed me the keys to the Aston Martin gotta go and pick up Max and I’m like what?? But yeah I was sweating a bit that day. But this is it you know, he’s such a relaxed guy, he doesn’t car you know we’re just a couple of mates driving to the circuit”
“I was fortunate that I was able to be driven around a track by Max in a porche Gt Cup car. I couldn’t decide weather I wanted to be sick or it was sick. Looking back it was unbelievable to see him driving and being in the car, it was wet as well he was going around some of those corners and I was thinking ‘he knows it’s wet right?’
“Keep him away from any media so he doesn’t say anything stupid”
“He’s an easy one to work with, he has such a staring mindset”
“We’re in it next year. Max sat out the last two but we are back next year (Brad about DTS)”
Brad on the Pitstop podcast. It was a really good insight into just how much prep goes into Max’s weekend from Brad. A couple of stories from Abu Dhabi as well and when Brad made the comment about keeping Max away from the media after a bad race of quali the boys even agreed that Max speaking his mind is one of the best things about him😭🥺