Rossi 'wants to see 12 Verstappens on the grid'

Rossi 'wants to see 12 Verstappens on the grid'

Originally written by Joas van Wingerden. This version is a translation.

Saturday 9 December 2017 11:28

Moto GP legend Valentino Rossi has revealed that he is a huge fan of Max Verstappen and would want 'to see 12 Verstappens on the grid' if he was in charge of Formula One, whilst implying that efforts to curb the talents of the young Dutchman would be 'crazy'.

Verstappen is seen by many to be a future world champion and already has three Grand Prix race victories to his name at the age of just 20.

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His style has become a big talking point on the Formula One circuit as his swashbuckling efforts to gain places without braking too much excite fans and his Red Bull bosses alike.

However, rule makers have created a ruling to clarify how much drivers could move under braking to defend against an overtake, a decision which some see as a ruling which will halt the entertaining nature of Verstappen's driving.

Rossi thinks Verstappen's style is what fans are desperate to see.

“Verstappen is like [Johann] Zarco, neither one of them ever brakes. You have to move to aside when he comes along because the danger is that both of you will end up going out," he said to Radio Deejay.

“It’s crazy. If I was running F1, I’d want to see twelve Verstappens on the grid! Max is an exceptional driver. He is young, he makes a mockery of the system and he overtakes. Fans love those qualities,” added the nine-time MotoGP world champion.