Verstappen won't win a title with Red Bull - Rosberg

Former Formula 1 world champion Nico Rosberg says Max Verstappen will not win the world championship while he remains at Red Bull. Verstappen committed his future to Red Bull until 2020 by signing a new contract last year, a move Rosberg describes as "strange".

Red Bull are currently looking to tie Daniel Ricciardo to a new deal. The Australian is a free agent at the end of the season.

Verstappen's future seems more secure, however, with Red bull able to count on the young star for the next three years, despite their struggles to match Mercedes and Ferrari in the hybrid era.

Red Bull have shown evidence of improved pace ahead of 2018, but Mercedes once again begin the year as favourites for the constructors' championship, with Lewis Hamilton the man to beat in the individual standings.

Rosberg pipped team-mate Hamilton to the 2016 title before retiring and he described his surprise at seeing Verstappen willingly commit to a team that are not at the absolute pinnacle of the sport.

"It was a strange decision because he did not have the best car there, there were two teams with better cars at that time," he told F1 Racing.

"They had the red carpet ready for him.

"I do not see Verstappen becoming a world champion with Red Bull, because Mercedes is so incredibly strong and Ferrari is also competing.

"Are there really any talents left in the Red Bull aerodynamics department? I know that Newey is no longer full-time."

Verstappen's daring style has excited fans and angered his rivals in equal measure. Rosberg says the Dutchman single-handedly makes races more watchable, hailing his stunning last-lap overtake of Kimi Raikkonen in Austin last year, which was ultimately rendered meaningless when he was punished by stewards.

"Max is so good for the sport, he is great," Rosberg added.

"When Max crashes out of a race, I am disappointed because the race is going to be boring from then on.

"He always goes for it and creates opportunities that are not there.

"Look at his overtake in America on Kimi Raikkonen."