Verstappen "turning F1 upside down"

Ewan Gale
Sunday 25 September 2022 18:00

Former F1 driver Timo Glock believes Max Verstappen is "turning F1 upside down" with his dominating performances this season.

The Dutchman is potentially one race away from becoming a two-time champion, although it is likely Verstappen's triumph will be confirmed at the Japanese Grand Prix next month.

The Red Bull driver is part of a generation of young drivers aiming to take over at the helm of F1, with Charles Leclerc and George Russell both in the top four of the drivers' standings.

But with Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso still performing strongly, Glock was asked if he believed the sport was in a golden age for talent.

The German told the Beyond the Grid podcast: "The talent we have on the grid, looking back to Charles, looking back on George, the history of how they went through the junior categories and dominating...

"Max coming into Formula 1, it feels like he is turning F1 upside down at the moment.

"The way he dominates, how he grew up being so competitive against Lewis - Lewis being the older guy as well as Alonso being so experienced, still having the hunger being so motivated to beat the young guys it is just really interesting to see."

Glock impressed with Russell learnings

Russell, in particular, has found himself in unusual territory at the front of the field after making the step up to Mercedes following a three-year stint with Williams.

Glock, who now lends his expertise as a pundit for Sky Deutschland, has been left impressed by Russell's ability to absorb from seven-time champion team-mate Hamilton.

"I asked George what is the difference when you come from a small team like Williams at the back of the grid to a top team like Mercedes against the big man Lewis Hamilton, what is he doing differently?" said Glock.

"It was interesting to hear what he was saying. [It is] The way he goes into a weekend super focused, being so precise, understanding the racing, the strategies and how he has to handle his tyres and so on.

"Very interesting to see what the young guys, when they come up next to the big hero Lewis Hamilton, how they learn from them and how they quickly understand how to adapt, take it on board and do it themselves."