In the wake of an electrifying showdown at Mexico’s Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit, Jos Verstappen has come forward to defend his son’s aggressive tactics, arguing that the faltering RB20 forces Max Verstappen into uncompromising moves. While Max still holds a 47-point lead in the championship race, it was clear the Red Bull car struggled with speed in Mexico—marking one of its weakest performances since Monza.
The RB20, once a frontrunner in the early season, has gradually shown signs of decline. Red Bull’s technical woes, from inconsistent tire behavior to troublesome setups and balance issues, have begun to haunt the team. In Mexico, these flaws were glaringly obvious as Max Verstappen faced an uphill battle to keep pace, leading to his fiercely contested move against rival Lando Norris.
Jos Verstappen openly admitted the move was harsh but defended his son’s approach, emphasizing that Max’s tactics are necessary in a car that’s no longer a sure bet for speed.
“Maybe it was a bit too much,” Jos said. “But you can talk about it for a long time, and in the end, it won’t make any difference. Max will continue to drive as he sees fit. He is forced to do so because the car is not fast enough. And he certainly won’t change his driving style just because there are some stewards who don’t like his way of doing things.”
Jos Verstappen went a step further, suggesting that British bias in the FIA’s stewarding echoes controversies faced by legendary drivers Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher. According to him, these icons were frequently scrutinized by English stewards for their bold racing, yet both found great success by sticking to their guns.
“I reminded him that Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher were also often subjected to strange criticism from England,” Jos added, underscoring his belief that Max should stay resolute on his path, just as those champions did.
With Red Bull sliding down the Constructors’ Championship standings to third place behind Ferrari, the stakes are even higher for Max Verstappen as the season narrows to its final four races and two sprints. If the RB20’s issues persist, Verstappen will be forced to rely even more on his aggressive style to fend off Lando Norris and lock down his fourth consecutive world title.
The next races will determine if Max’s “no-holds-barred” driving can carry him through—or if Red Bull’s mechanical troubles will finally put his reign in jeopardy.
