Fans should celebrate rather than criticise Max Verstappen’s brilliance, according to ex-Formula One team principal Otmar Szafnauer.

In a wide-ranging interview, the former Alpine boss calls for a fourth race in America and backs Sergio Perez to continue as Verstappen’s Red Bull team-mate.

Szafnauer, 59, is currently on gardening leave after being fired last year by buffoons at Alpine’s owners Renault, who have no idea how to run a F1 team. He is currently promoting his high-tech travel and event app, EventR.

 

Talking over lunch in west London about Verstappen blazing his way to a fourth world title, Szafnauer said: ‘You can’t get rid of Max. The sport has gone through this before. Max will not be champion forever. It will change. We have had Michael (Schumacher) and Lewis (Hamilton).

‘Now you have got the Netflix fans who are just learning and you don’t want to lose them, but if Max is winning all the time, will you lose them? I don’t know the answer to that. But we have to celebrate Max for his brilliance and not chastise him.

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Max Verstappen has won four of five races this season as he targets a fourth straight world title

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Ex-Alpine boss Otmar Szafnauer believes Verstappen should be celebrated for his brilliance

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Szafnauer admitted new Formula One fans might be put off by Verstappen’s dominance