Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali praised Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen for his racing, pointing to the results he can produce with a not-so-dominant car. Domenicali also addressed his “differences” with Verstappen, but acknowledged his perspective.

The four-time world champion has delivered phenomenal results on several race weekends despite the setbacks faced by his team. Red Bull has been experiencing a challenging season, mainly due to the problems on its RB21 F1 car that it has failed to address, given the complicated nature of ground effect cars.

Even with the leadership turmoil that saw Christian Horner get replaced by Laurent Mekies as CEO and team principal of Red Bull, Verstappen’s performances have ensured the team remains in fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship. The Dutchman is single-handedly steering the team as his teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, struggles to adapt to the RB21 following his promotion from Racing Bulls ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix.

Domenicali acknowledged Verstappen’s ability to deliver excellent results in a car not set up to secure top positions. He told RacingNews365:

“Max is a phenomenal driver, the best driver, and that definitely makes the difference. You appreciate that even more when, unfortunately, the car isn’t right. Of course, the car plays a very important role, but you still always see him making the difference.

“Within the new team structure, I think Red Bull has to provide him with a better car. But they will definitely work 100% on that.”

He added:

“Laurent (Mekies) will work with an ecosystem built around Verstappen, within which Verstappen can fully focus. He naturally wants to win and be the fastest every lap. Verstappen will help the team get back on top.”

Speaking about his personal relationship with Verstappen, Domenicali said there were differences between them, but acknowledged that this is what makes the sport more special. He said:

“He’s matured as a person, even now that he has a family. He loves racing. He’s always driving, and that’s fantastic.

“He’s very direct, but from a personal perspective, I have a very strong relationship with him. I talk to him, we explain things to each other. Sometimes you might have different opinions, but ultimately, you understand each other.

“The good thing about Formula 1 is that we have different personalities. Everyone is different, and that makes a big difference in our sport.”