Max Verstappen‘s teammates face a uniquely tough challenge at Red Bull Racing – and Alexander Albon knows this better than most.
"You have to just appreciate the talent that Max has. That’s number one," says Albon, who spent 18 months as Verstappen’s teammate before moving to Williams.
The tricky part? It’s not just about raw speed. The car itself can be a handful.
"It’s not always that comfortable to drive that car," Albon explained in Abu Dhabi. "Max likes the car quite different. It’s not easy for other drivers to adapt to it."
Just ask Sergio Perez. He started 2023 strong, regularly landing on the podium and looking competitive against his teammate.
Then things changed.
As Red Bull brought updates to the car throughout the season, Verstappen seemed to get faster and faster. Meanwhile, Perez struggled to keep up.
"When you look at Checo at the beginning of the year, the car felt a little bit more stable for him," Albon points out. "He was actually doing a good job. He could qualify in the top five, top three and get podium finishes."
But that early success didn’t last.
"As the upgrades came on and Max felt more comfortable with the car – maybe not comfortable, but as he could deal with it – Checo struggled a bit more."
There’s also the constant pressure of being measured against a four-time world champion. You’re always in the spotlight, and every mistake gets magnified.
"It’s a tough place to be," Albon says. "For anyone, it’s not going to be an easy place to be his teammate."
Whoever ends up as Verstappen’s next teammate at Red Bull will face these same challenges – adapting to a unique car while racing alongside one of F1’s most talented drivers.
