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Ralf Schumacher believes Max Verstappen must prove his value to Red Bull beyond his extraordinary driving, but also as a leader in difficult times.
Max Verstappen has not enjoyed his start to the 2026 season. The four-time world champion has made it no secret that he is immensely frustrated with his current situation.
Verstappen’s latest criticism of the new regulations has not been received well. Some have suggested Verstappen wouldn’t be critical if he were on a winning team.
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Verstappen’s behaviour has been compared to past F1 legends, and many believe he isn’t exuding the level-headedness previous champions have.
But Red Bull’s issues have also caused Verstappen a great deal of frustration. And Ralf Schumacher believes he should stop complaining and try helping the team instead.
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Ralf Schumacher wants Max Verstappen to ‘concentrate’ on leading Red Bull during tough time
In an interview with Formel1.de, Ralf Schumacher was asked about what he makes of Max Verstappen’s recent comments about the state of Formula 1.
Schumacher believes he should focus on getting the best out of the car. But more than that, he needs to step up and be a leader for Red Bull during this difficult time, after the support they’ve given him his whole career.
“I think he needs to concentrate. This year, the car isn’t a natural fit for him. He can’t play to his strengths that easily. When he tries, he’s making mistakes at the moment.”
“We haven’t seen that from him in quite some time. So you can tell that this isn’t the optimum car for him yet. I believe it’s the right time for him to adopt a more collaborative strategy…”
“It’s time to relinquish the reins, accept the constraints imposed by the regulations and focus on behind-the-scenes work with the FIA.”
“However, he must simultaneously fulfil his function as a team leader, repaying the team for many years of support that propelled him to four world championships.”
“Now it’s time to pay it back. This is a crucial function in the team. He is responsible for more than just driving. He’s the key figure within Red Bull Racing, but his duties must also extend into managing communication for Red Bull.”
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While there is certainly some merit to what Schumacher is saying, Verstappen’s role as a leader cannot demand that he take on additional responsibilities beyond racing.
It’s one thing to ask Verstappen to be more diplomatic with the media to avoid further scrutiny during what is a difficult period for the team.
But to ask Verstappen to be responsible for team morale is unfair. It’s not a driver’s job to ensure that the environment in the team is good. While Max can certainly temper his comments and hostility, he can’t ignore the truth when asked a question.
It would be best if Verstappen inculcated a more collaborative mentality within Red Bull. But beyond that, he should raise questions about their process if he sees something going wrong.
As far as his complaints about the regulations, the Dutch ace is far from the only driver on the grid unhappy with the situation. But even he will feel his comments have distracted from the larger issues he is facing.
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