Red Bull driver Max Verstappen is one of the hottest properties in F1 currently and has two successive world championships to his name.
The Dutchman was recently asked about the F1 drivers he would sign, barring himself, if he were in charge of running a team.
He will, of course, never be in a position to directly do this himself in the near future at least. Judging by his views on the prospect of becoming a team principal himself post retirement, Verstappen has often said that he harbours no such ambitions.
However, Max does have his personal preference on who he would like to see in a dream pairing in F1.
Max has had a number of talented drivers alongside him throughout his time in the sport, ranging from Daniel Ricciardo to Carlos Sainz, Alex Albon and his current teammate Sergio Perez.
None of them were good enough to make the cut for Verstappen’s dream team.
Perhaps more interestingly, Max also chose not to include rival and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.
“Can I choose anyone, outside of myself of course? Because I can’t be the team boss and the driver? It’s not possible? I’m just kidding,” Verstappen said.
“Well, of the current people who are capable of being the Team Principal I would also go for Christian [Horner].”
“I find that really hard, the drivers, because I think there are a lot of good drivers. And I would go probably for an experienced one. So I would go for Fernando [Alonso].
“And then I would take a young guy and I would put Lando in the car. Yeah, Fernando and Lando.”
Personal friendship key factor behind Max’s picks?
It has been almost a decade since Alonso last won a Grand Prix, but he is still considered more than capable behind the wheels.
He has shown plenty of glimpses to prove that he still has enough ability to compete amongst the finest on the grid and this is perhaps the reason Max has put his faith in the Spaniard.
Norris, meanwhile, will also surprise a lot of fans. The fact that he has been chosen ahead of the likes of Hamilton is also a strange one.
It is worth noting, though, that Norris and Verstappen are great friends and part of the reason behind his selection may be that reason, especially since he is yet to win a single race despite spending almost five years in the sport.
One of the biggest factors in Max’s selection is undoubtedly his personal relationship with both drivers.
Alonso and Norris had both publicly sided with Verstappen following the controversial season finale in Abu Dhabi back in 2021.
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