Dehydration is said to have cost Max Verstappen three kilograms during his triumph in Miami.
The hot conditions as a result of the Florida sun and the new Miami street circuit made Sunday’s race extremely difficult for the Formula One drivers, but it now appears that world champion Verstappen did not drink a drop of water the whole race.
Former Red Bull driver Robert Doornbos said that he doesn’t know if the 2022 Red Bull has standard drinking bottle, but he wouldn’t be surprised if they don’t.
“Installing a hydration system is currently being considered by the engineers, but it’s another kilo of ballast they can’t afford,” Doornbos said in an interview with Ziggo sport.
After the race, Max Verstappen was visibly fatigued and sought for a drink before being led onto the podium.
Villeneuve also believes that at both Red Bull and Ferrari, a definite driver hierarchy for the 2022 world championship has evolved.
“Max has certainly shown in the last two races that he deserved the title,” 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve told the Dutch publication Formule 1. “He’s right at the peak of his abilities, always on the border. There is not a single race where he is less than that now.”
“They each have a leader who is not determined by the team but simply by the track.”
“Verstappen and Leclerc have become number 1 in a natural way,” he added. “Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez… let’s call them the sidekicks, can win races, but they are not yet at number 1 level.”
