Former Red Bull F1 team principal Franz Tost has unveiled the nail-biting race that sealed the fate of Max Verstappen’s career in Formula 1. Tost, who led Toro Rosso (later AlphaTauri) for two decades, played a pivotal role in introducing the now four-time champion to the Red Bull F1 family. Under Tost’s guidance, Verstappen skyrocketed to stardom, clinching multiple drivers’ titles and steering Red Bull to consecutive constructors’ championships in 2022 and 2023. However, as rumors swirl about Verstappen’s potential departure from Red Bull or even F1 altogether amid a lackluster season start, Tost reminisces about the moment he recognized Verstappen’s extraordinary talent.
In a recent interview on the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Tost recalled the crucial turning point that led to Verstappen’s swift ascension to F1 at just 17 years old. Drawing parallels to F1 icon Michael Schumacher, Tost highlighted a standout performance by Verstappen that solidified his belief in the young prodigy’s exceptional abilities. “I was pushing for this,” Tost declared, emphasizing his unwavering support for Verstappen’s promotion to F1 despite his tender age.
Tost vividly described a wet race at the Norisring in Formula 3, where Verstappen’s unmatched prowess behind the wheel left the competition in the dust. Clocking lap times a staggering one and a half seconds faster than his rivals, Verstappen’s dominance under challenging conditions evoked memories of Schumacher’s legendary displays of skill early in his career. Tost reminisced, “He was flying under wet conditions, and this shows you that he is an extraordinarily good driver.”
Reflecting on Verstappen’s meteoric rise, Tost drew a parallel between the young driver’s wet weather mastery and Schumacher’s awe-inspiring performance at the Salzburg Ring decades prior. “If there are such races in very difficult conditions, you can see who is able to drive a car, who is skilled to drive a car fast and who will have a good future,” Tost remarked, underscoring Verstappen’s exceptional talent and bright future in the world of motorsport.
As Verstappen grapples with challenges on the track in his tenth F1 campaign, Tost’s revelations offer a glimpse into the early days of a racing prodigy destined for greatness. With Verstappen’s legacy in the sport already cemented, the former Red Bull F1 boss’s insights shed light on the remarkable journey that catapulted the Dutch sensation to Formula 1 superstardom.