Max Verstappen SLAMMED: Nico Rosberg makes huge world championship title claim
MAX VERSTAPPEN will not win a world title if he continues to drive like the way he did in the Chinese Grand Prix.
That is according to former world champion Nico Rosberg.
Verstappen took out championship leader Sebastian Vettel while trying to overtake the Ferrari driver at the hairpin on Lap 43.
The incident sent both cars into a spin and ended both drivers’ hopes of a podium spot in Shanghai.
Race officials handed Verstappen a 10 second penalty and two penalty points on his Superlicence for causing the collision.
GETTY
And while former Mercedes man Rosberg belives Verstappen is a talented young driver, the mistakes he’s making could hamper his chances of winning a world title.
“Verstappen, he’s one of the big talents out there and has a great future but driving like the way he is at the moment he’s not going to be able to be world champion because he makes so many mistakes,” Rosberg said.
“Five mistakes now in three races. Five major mistakes, it’s too much.
“It was one of those extremely hard days for a young driver because you take out the world championship leader, you take yourself out, get a penalty, you’re 100 per cent at fault and your team-mate wins the race in an unbelievably awesome way, that is a hard day.
SKY SPORTS
“That is painful. Those are the days where a young driver like Max will hopefully for him really learn and make progress and adapt.”
Verstappen took full responsibilty for the crash and quickly apologised to Vettel after the race.
“I could see him struggling on the tyres and tried to brake late into the corner," Verstappen said.
“I locked the rears a bit and hit him. That was of course my fault.”