Verstappen Reflects on Departure of Engineer Xevi Pujolar
Max Verstappen says he will miss collaborating with Xevi Pujolar after the engineer’s abrupt exit from Toro Rosso following a reported dispute in Russia.
Max Verstappen has acknowledged the loss of his former race engineer Xevi Pujolar after the Spaniard’s sudden departure from Toro Rosso ahead of the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix. Pujolar, who had worked closely with Verstappen during his time at the Faenza-based team, left following a disagreement with team management during the Russian Grand Prix weekend.
According to Finnish newspaper Ilta Sanomat, Pujolar’s exit, along with that of data engineer Olivier Helvig, followed a falling out with team principal Franz Tost. The dispute reportedly centred on the engineers’ opposition to management’s tyre strategy during the Sochi race weekend. Both engineers have now left the team, with Pujolar not accompanying Verstappen to Red Bull or remaining in the Formula One paddock.
Verstappen, who was promoted to Red Bull Racing for the Spanish Grand Prix, commented that he valued his working relationship with Pujolar, describing it as important for performance. He also expressed regret that Pujolar would not be joining him at his new team, but said he looked forward to adapting to a new environment and working with Red Bull’s engineering staff.
Verstappen's new engineering team at Red Bull
From the Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona, Verstappen will work with the engineering group previously assigned to Daniil Kvyat, led by Gianpiero Lambiase. With the mid-season move, Verstappen faces the challenge of adapting quickly to a new car and team dynamics, as he lines up alongside Daniel Ricciardo.
Verstappen has indicated he intends to learn as much as possible from his new team and teammate, but acknowledged the challenge of switching teams and cars mid-season. The Dutch driver’s strong relationship with Pujolar was seen as a factor in his rapid development at Toro Rosso, but he is now set to rely on Red Bull’s established engineering team as he begins the next stage of his Formula One career.
For further context on Verstappen’s engineering relationships, seeVerstappen likened to Marquez by Toro Rosso engineer.
