Here’s the latest view from Mark Webber on Max Verstappen as of early May 2026.
- Webber argues Verstappen is essential to Formula 1 and that the sport cannot afford to lose him, citing his global appeal and the way his presence keeps rivals under pressure. He frames Verstappen as a benchmark that lifts the entire field, similar to iconic rivalries in other sports [cite ][cite ].
- He stresses that Verstappen’s departure would be a major blow to F1’s audience and competitiveness, and he notes Verstappen has earned the right to make his own choices given his level of success [cite ][cite ].
- Webber also emphasizes that the only real threat to Verstappen’s dominance would be his own car’s reliability, rather than rivals, underlining the team’s responsibility to deliver a competitive package [cite ].
If you’d like, I can pull the most recent direct quotes or assemble a quick digest from multiple outlets and summarize with timestamps.
Sources
Webber compares Max Verstappen to Nadal and Federer, warning F1 must keep its four-time champion racing to maintain its global appeal.
readmotorsport.comMark Webber is at the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix already looking forward to new challenges after Formula One.
www.foxnews.comVoormalig Formule 1-coureur Mark Webber vindt Max Verstappen te belangrijk voor de sport om weg te lopen. Volgens de Australiër trekt de aanwezigheid van de Nederlander niet alleen fans over de hele wereld aan, maar houdt hij ook zijn rivalen constant onder druk.
www.news.gpLees hier het laatste nieuws over Mark Webber. Betrouwbaar, gedetailleerd en altijd up to date.
nl.motorsport.comMark Webber appeared furious after qualifying for the British Grand Prix. The team brought only two examples of the new front wing to Silverstone, and Sebastian Vettel's wing failed during Saturday practice. The team therefore chose to remove the new wing from W's car
f1grandprix.motorionline.comMark Webber says Max Verstappen can be stopped, but chances are only his own RB19's reliability can do that.
www.planetf1.comFormer Red Bull driver Mark Webber has described Max Verstappen as being "a bit flaky" this season, saying he'd like to see him "on the road" a bit more.
www.espn.com.auFormer Formula 1 driver Mark Webber believes Max Verstappen is too important to the sport to walk away. According to the Australian, the Dutchman’s presence not only attracts fans around the world, but also keeps his rivals under constant pressure.
www.news.gp