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Former Red Bull mechanic Calum Nicholas has claimed that Max Verstappen has been able to ‘unlock’ triple the brain power of an average human.
Verstappen, 28, is already one of the best drivers in Formula 1 history, having so far won four world championships.
The Dutchman dominated the sport from 2021 to 2024, producing stellar performances to clinch four consecutive titles.
However, Verstappen’s dominance came to an end in 2025, with Lando Norris pipping him to the world title by two points.
So far in his career, Verstappen has built a reputation as a no-nonsense driver who will do whatever it takes to win.
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Calum Nicholas thinks Max Verstappen has triple the brain power of the average human
Speaking to evo India, ex-Red Bull mechanic Nicholas revealed the ‘secret’ that makes Verstappen great.
The former Senior Power Unit Assembly Technician and pit crew stated that Verstappen has managed to unlock more brain power than an average human being.
Nicholas said: “Watching Max learn and grow over these years to this guy that now just seems like he has this spare capacity that, you know, like this adage where we only use 10% of our brains, Max has somehow managed to unlock 25%, 30%.
“It just seems like he has this spare capacity when he’s in the car, to look at other things, to see the whole race, to communicate back and forth with us.
“I think to say what’s his secret sauce is just that he’s a guy who doesn’t stop working. He doesn’t stop pushing. Like, there’s no time in Max’s career where he’s going, oh well, I’m good enough. I’ll just keep winning.”
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He continued: “Max can win by 10 seconds; he’s asking himself why he didn’t win by 12, right? This is the kind of person he is. He will never stop pushing himself. And I think that drive is probably what you’d say is his secret.
“When you’re competing against Max, whatever you’re willing to do to win, he’s willing to go that step further than you. That’s one of the things that makes him so great.”
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Calum Nicholas claims Max Verstappen’s ‘raw talent’ was ‘clear’ from the early days
Verstappen moved from Toro Rosso to Red Bull back in 2016, replacing Daniil Kvyat.
On his Red Bull debut at the Spanish Grand Prix, Verstappen became the youngest driver to win an F1 race as he managed to hold off Kimi Raikkonen in the closing stages.
Recalling the moment, Nicholas said that Verstappen displayed his ‘raw talent’ very quickly.
He said: “I think one of the things that I say now about Max, and you know, it’s been a real privilege to see him come into the team in 2016, obviously that historic win in his first ever race with the team.
“Holding off a veteran Kimi Raikkonen for like 20 odd laps, it was clear, you know, from very early on, that he had this raw talent.”
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