Two-time Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen says that it is important for drivers who are in a number two position to accept their role.
Throughout F1 history, some drivers have played a secondary role to a team-mate who is battling for the World Championship.
Some of the most recent examples include Sergio Perez at Red Bull and Valtteri Bottas at Mercedes, who both assisted their team-mate’s championship charge in 2021.
Bottas spent five years at Mercedes from 2017 to 2021, with team-mate Lewis Hamilton winning the Drivers’ title on four occasions during the stint.
Speaking to Viaplay, Verstappen says that Bottas wouldn’t have survived in F1 if he hadn’t accepted that he couldn’t overcome the challenge that Hamilton presented.
“Every year he starts fresh, but after a few races you realise it’s not going to happen again and you accept your role,” he said. “He [Bottas] still finished on podiums, he won a few races and took pole positions.
“You just have to accept that the driver next to you is just a bit better. That’s fine, that can happen.
“It’s important that he accepted it. Some drivers can’t do that and then it goes completely wrong.
“Then they don’t survive for very long. I’m not going to name names, but you have to accept your role. You can’t live in a fairytale world.”
Following his years at Mercedes, Bottas switched to Alfa Romeo this year and is currently tied to a multi-year deal.
However, Verstappen’s father Jos thinks that the Finnish driver is enduring his final F1 years.
“At a certain point, you realise that it won’t happen again. He understands that,” said Verstappen senior.
“Bottas had that opportunity with Mercedes for many years, and now he drives for Alfa Romeo. I think he is on his last stint in Formula 1.
“If you’re part of a championship team, you go for it and try. After a few races you realise that it’s not going to work.”
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