Formula 1 legend Felipe Massa has shared who he thinks is the perfect teammate for Max Verstappen at Red Bull going forward.
The Brazilian was speaking to Dutch magazine Formule 1 about the three-time world champion.
When you’re in a position like Max Verstappen, you want as little change as possible around you.
There are no major rule changes expected in Formula 1 until 2026 and Verstappen and Red Bull will want to take advantage of their advantage over the rest of the field in the next year to secure two more titles.
Verstappen could go into 2026 as a five-time world champion and if that’s the case, then catching and even overtaking Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton is a realistic possibility.
However, Red Bull will also be keen on maintaining their hold on the constructor’s title and that might become more difficult as the other teams begin to close in on them.
Even towards the end of his year, the likes of Ferrari and McLaren have looked very competitive at various tracks.
It means Red Bull might have to consider a change in their driving personnel if Sergio Perez can’t improve on his form from this season.
Photo by Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images
However, Felipe Massa has shared who he thinks might be the perfect teammate for Max Verstappen going forward.
He’s not sure that introducing a quicker driver to the team would be a good idea, even if they may not challenge the Dutchman.
Massa shares thoughts on the perfect Verstappen teammate
Talking about the 26-year-old, Massa said: “Max is visibly feeling good and wins almost every race. For him, any change would mean a deterioration.
“What Max is showing this season is incredibly good, of an unprecedented level.
“Even if you put Lewis Hamilton or Fernando Alonso in Red Bull’s other car, I’m not sure much would change. Maybe a little bit, but believe me, they wouldn’t beat Max either.”
If Hamilton or Alonso were Verstappen’s teammate they would both fancy their chances of winning a title despite Massa’s suggestion they would be off the pace.
Rumours that the Spaniard could join Red Bull have been dismissed but he’s still an unbelievable driver.
However, there’s a reason that so many drivers have struggled alongside Verstappen as the Red Bull isn’t easy to drive.
The likes of Alex Albon and Pierre Gasly have proven how quick they are after leaving the team.
It might be slightly harsh on Perez that Massa thinks he’s the perfect teammate for Verstappen just because he’s not as fast.
His two race wins compared to his teammate’s 17 in 2023 does unfortunately prove his point.
